When I got home early from work and unlocked my flat, I noticed a note on the kitchen table, written in my best mates handwriting and addressed to my wife.
At first, I thought it must be some mistake. Tom and I had known each other since our school days. He was the one Id trusted with the spare key to our place whenever we went on holiday, and hed even been my best man at our wedding.
Yet, there the note sat, right next to the mug my wife drank her tea from every morning.
I picked it up, hands trembling.
Ill come by this evening. He wont be back before eight.
A knot twisted in my stomach. The clock on the wall showed it was ten to six.
Thats when I heard a noise from the bedroom.
The door opened, and my wife, Emily, stepped out, wearing a dress Id never seen her wear at home. She froze when she spotted the note clutched in my hand.
You why are you home so early? she asked quietly.
Thats what I was wondering, I replied. Why is Tom coming round later?
A look of panic crossed her face, and she went pale.
For a few seconds, no one said a word. The only sound was the dull hum of the fridge behind me.
Its not what you think, she finally managed.
Does that line ever work? I asked.
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
I picked up the key from the table. It was the spare key to our homethe one Id handed to Tom a year earlier.
How long? I asked.
Emily stared at the floor.
Its not serious.
Those words stung even more than any confession.
So there is something.
She didnt deny it.
I sat down at the table, struggling to breathe normally. My head was spinning with imagesall those evenings she said she was meeting friends, all those times Tom happened to be nearby.
Was it him who started it? I asked quietly.
Emily shook her head.
It doesnt matter.
It does to me.
Just then her phone rang on the table.
The name on the screen: Tom.
We both stared at it for a few seconds.
She didnt dare answer.
But I picked up and took the call.
Hello?
Silence on the other end.
I didnt expect to hear you, Tom eventually said.
Seems theres a lot I didnt expect.
He sighed. Listen we can talk about this.
Oh, well talk, I replied. Tonight. Just as you planned.
I ended the call and looked at Emily.
Hell come round, wont he?
She nodded slowly.
Alright, I said. Let him.
The two hours that followed were the longest of my life.
I sat in that same chair, staring at the note, and couldnt help thinking how strange it is that you can be betrayed by the two people you trust the most.
At five to eight, the doorbell rang.
I opened the door.
Tom stood there, a bottle of wine in his hand.
His face turned ashen when he saw me.
I thought youd be at work.
Plans change.
He glanced behind me at Emily, who stood nervously in the kitchen.
We can explain, he murmured.
No, I said. You cant.
I placed the note on the table between us.
Just one question. Which of you thought Id never find out?
Tom opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Then I did something neither of them expected.
I picked up the spare key and tossed it to him.
You wont be needing that anymore.
Then I grabbed my suitcase, which Id packed an hour earlier, and set it by the door.
Emily watched me, tears in her eyes.
Where will you go?
Somewhere people dont lie to me.
Three weeks later, I filed for divorce.
And just two days ago, I heard Tom and Emily arent speaking anymoreseems hes already started seeing someone else.
Sometimes karma arrives quicker than youd think.
But, to be honest, I still wonder about one thing
Whos the greater traitorthe one who cheats, or the friend who was meant to protect you?
