Ive just walked in from the shops, unloading my groceries onto the kitchen table, when something odd catches my eye in the pocket of my wifes coata small key with a bright red plastic tag. Weve never had a key like that before.
At first, I think perhaps it belongs to the postbox. But when I pick it up, I quickly realise its nothing like any of our keys.
Just then, she walks into the kitchen.
Whats this? I ask her.
She glances at the key, and for a split second, her face changes.
I dont know, she says hurriedly. Maybe something from work.
From work? I repeat.
She shrugs. Someone might have asked me to look after it for them.
But she only works in a small office, and Ive never known her to bring anyone elses keys home.
I quietly leave the key on the table and say nothing more.
But inside me, a doubt has begun to bloom.
Over the next few days, she starts coming home later and later. She tells me theres more to do at work.
Her phone, I notice, is almost always on silent now.
One evening, she goes outsupposedly to see a friend.
Thats when I decide its time to check something for myself.
I take the mysterious key.
And I head out.
Ive no idea what it unlocks, but I cant shake the feeling that Im about to find out.
I start walking down the road, past a row of modern apartment blocks near ours.
At the third building, something catches my eye.
Keys with identical red tags dangle on the front door hooks.
My heart starts to pound.
I slip the key into the lock.
The door unlocks smoothly.
I make my way up to the third floor.
Flat 12.
I cant explain it, but something tells me to try the key again.
I do.
Click.
The door swings open.
The living room light is on.
Then I hear voices.
One is definitely my wifes.
Soon everything will be ready, she says.
Theres a mans voice as well.
He still doesnt suspect anything?
My heart freezes.
I take a step inside.
My wife stands in the lounge, next to a man Ive never seen before.
They both turn.
Her face goes pale.
What are you doing here?
I look at the key in my hand.
I think thats a better question for you.
The man stares at me, tense.
And whos this? I ask.
My wife tries to say something.
Its not what you think.
But then my eyes fall to the table.
Papers.
A tenancy agreement.
Name of the tenant.
Hers.
So you were planning a whole new life, I say quietly.
She says nothing.
How long? I ask.
This time, the man answers.
Five months.
Five months.
Five months of lies, late nights, and endless excuses.
My wife starts to cry.
I was going to tell you
I shake my head.
No. You were just going to disappear.
The man grabs his coat.
I didnt know she was married, he mutters.
And he leaves.
Now its just the two of us.
I can fix this, she whispers.
But its already too late.
A month later, I file for divorce.
It turns out, shed been paying rent on that flat with money from our joint account.
Now she lives there alone.
The man she risked everything for left her within a week.
Sometimes she messages me, saying it was the biggest mistake of her life.
But every time I see that little red key in my mind, I cant help but wonder.
If you found such a key in your partners pocketwould you follow it?
