May admits what happened to a friend

Morning had been almost painful. When she had woken up Roger was already gone, or had maybe never been there at all. There was no sign of him in the laundry hamper or the dishwasher, which were her usual tells. For whatever reason his absence didn’t bother her. At least today, unlike most days, she had an appointment to keep. She steered clear of the showerhead when she got out of bed to keep her shower short and dressed in a turtleneck sweater and long pants to hide any marks Elliott might have left that she hadn’t noticed. It was an easy walk from their apartment to the Korean restaurant a few blocks away where she was due to meet Amelia. It was only when she stood at the front step of the place that the dread came back to her. Was she really going around like she didn’t have a care in the world? Less than twenty four hours ago she had had another man inside her, and she hadn’t even spoken to her husband. Maybe he knew somehow. Was that why he had stayed away last night? But that didn’t make sense, how would he have known. Unless Elliott had been a honey trap for her?

Her anxieties rose up in her throat until she felt like she could barely breathe. The sign for the restaurant was spinning in front of her eyes. Before she could break down completely, though, she was interrupted by a hand tapping at her shoulder. She whirled to see not her husband, but Amelia, her best friend, looking back at her.

“Whoa babes,” said Amelia brightly. “You okay?” Her hair was red, curly, suiting her well. Freckles covered her face and made her look like an Amazon. She had the build for it, too, much curvier than May in all the right places. When they had met in college she had been jealous of her roommate. Today she wore a loose floral dress, with lots of cleavage. It was unavoidable with her.

May’s tongue felt dry. She didn’t know how to answer the question and that fact irritated her. “I’m fine,” she said curtly. “Let’s get a table.” They moved inside. The scent of sizzling bulgogi and spicy kimchi was a comfort. The waitress seated them, and May quickly threw her coat into the corner of the booth. She fidgeted with the edge of her napkin. The lunch crowd around them buzzed with conversation, but May felt like all eyes were on her.

Amelia’s were, at the very minimum. She reached across the table and touched May’s hand. “You seem off today, May. What’s going on?”

“I’m just tired, I guess. It’s been a long week.”

Amelia raised an eyebrow. “Mm-hm,” she grunted.

May looked down at the table. Her fingers traced the glass of water. It was a secret for a reason. Admitting it could ruin her whole life, personal, financial, emotional. For the last decade she had neglected anything that could keep her afloat if anything went wrong, she now realized. If Roger decided to leave her she would be up the creek without a paddle.

Amelia squeezed her hand. “May, babes, whatever it is, you can tell me.”

The sincerity in Amelia’s voice broke through May’s defenses. Before she could stop herself there were tears welling in her eyes. She blinked rapidly, trying to hold them back, but it was no use. “I did something… something really bad,” she whispered.

Amelia froze, but there was no judgment in her eyes. “What happened?” she asked in a low voice.

May took a deep breath. She glanced all around, pointlessly. If one of Roger’s partners were around she never would have known. At most she saw them once a year, at the Christmas party. “Yesterday… I… I was with someone. Not Roger.”