Retribution
Hello, everyone! Mark burst into the flat, his voice filling the space with energy. Let me introduce you to my Sophie!
Emily turned to look at the girl and forced a polite smile, though inside, she felt the urge to shout, *Where on earth does he find them? These Sophies, Ellies, Harriets, and Vickys!*
Her brother Mark was a tall, handsome, charismatic young man charming and always the centre of attention. Girls were always trailing after him, and from time to time, thered be real stunners in the mix, the sort you couldnt help but stare at in awe. Yet Mark never picked those girls. He always ended up with the awkward, plain ones. Emily simply couldnt fathom why.
Once, shed cornered him and asked outright. Hed just tapped her playfully on the nose and told her she didnt understand a thing. When Emily approached her mum about it, her mum had just hesitated and muttered about how Mark had his own tastes. Emily just snorted inwardly. Oh, sure, his own tastes Nonsense. She saw the way he watched the pretty ones. She knew perfectly well what kind of girls he liked. So what was he playing at? Finding validation through those who adored him, perhaps?
Whats there to understand? her best friend Alice had shrugged when Emily vented her frustrations. He picks the plain ones because theyll do anything for him, forgive any indiscretion. He can have his flings and dalliances theyll swallow it and still sit at home, waiting for him with dinner and a freshly ironed shirt.
Emily pondered that.
Maybe so. Then why does he keep swapping them out every few months? Why not just settle on one?
That I cant say, Alice admitted.
Maybe shed never understand her brother, Emily thought. Maybe she wasnt meant to.
—
To Emilys surprise, she found she actually liked Sophie. She was nothing like Marks other girlfriends lovely, with a brilliant sense of humour.
Finally, a normal girl! Emily thought. He might actually marry this one.
Later, after dinner, Mark and Sophie left, and Emily, eager to share her positive opinion, made for the kitchen but stopped when she heard voices from within.
I do hope he finally marries her and gets off our backs, her father grumbled. I swear, hes a grown man and still refuses to work. Just living off women. Where did we go wrong with him?
I dont know her mum sighed. He said her parents are well-off, shes got her own flat and a great job. Itd be grand if she could line up something for him.
After a pause, her mum added, I just want him out of our house and to stop asking us for money
Everything clicked for Emily then. It was so simple painfully simple. Mark wasnt just going after grateful girls delighted by his attention; he always sought out those whose parents had money, whose wallets were always open. Each new girlfriend topped the last. And Sophie outdid them all: not just well-off parents but a fine position herself.
How utterly wrong. How repulsive.
For the first time, Emily truly felt sorry for Sophie.
—
Marks relationship with Sophie escalated. He showered her with lavish presents all funded by money begged from their parents. Tensions soared. Marks ability to wring another fifty-pound note from them every time they said never again was infuriating. The flat was filled with arguments. Emily often fled to Alices to avoid the noise.
Why hasnt your brother proposed yet? Alice asked.
Emily shrugged. How would I know? Maybe he thinks its too soon
I wouldnt wait if I were him. What if she finds out what hes really like and breaks it off? After all that money your folks have put in ridiculous!
Emily could only agree. Why *does* he keep dragging it out? she wondered.
—
At last, the proposal happened. Sophie said yes. The family was overjoyed especially their parents. But nothing really changed. The wedding was set for spring, then delayed to summer, then pushed into autumn. Mark kept draining money, the rows continued, and Emily grew exhausted from the endless suspense. Even she, uninvolved, just wanted closure. Marry her or let her go, for heavens sake!
—
One evening, Emily returned home to another round of yelling. This time, she stood her ground, appearing in the doorway of the sitting room. As soon as she entered, everyone fell silent.
Youve had enough of this! Emily declared, glaring at her brother. Instead of getting a job to buy all these gifts for Sophie yourself, youre driving Mum and Dad into debt!
Ill pay them back
How? Marry her and then what? Do you really think shell put up with your laziness? Shell kick you back here soon enough.
Shes crazy about me. You know nothing about women!
I know more than you, I *am* a woman! And Mum, Dad how can you stand it? You should have thrown him out ages ago!
Darling but her mum tried, but Emily cut her off.
No buts! Surely you realise hes just using you!
Once started, Emily couldnt stop. She kept at it, while her father left the room. Five minutes later, he returned with an envelope in his hand.
Emily! Emily! he shouted to break through.
Emily turned, still breathing hard.
This is for you. The courier dropped it off, he said.
Emily took the envelope without a word, shot a dark look at Mark, and stalked off to her room.
—
Curiously, Emily turned the sealed envelope over in her hands. No name, nothing written on it.
Is this really for me? she wondered. Well, Dad did give it to her.
Inside, she found a single theatre ticket for tonight. Just one.
What in the world? Emily murmured. Who would send me this?
She paced her room in search of a clue, but nothing came. In the end, she simply decided to go. Why not?
—
Emily arrived at the theatre early, self-consciously pretending to look for someone in the milling crowd.
Its the new play this season! she heard people remark excitedly.
All strangers, all smiling. When the bell chimed, Emily made her way in, checked her coat, and found her seat. She glanced around no familiar faces.
*Who sent me this? And why?* she wondered again.
The curtain came up.
Emily kept glancing at the actors, but she couldnt focus. Then, suddenly, a young woman appeared on stage and Emilys jaw dropped. Wasnt that Sophie? Surely it was.
The first and then the second act rushed by. Throughout, she barely knew what to think.
When the play ended, there was thunderous applause, then the audience began to slowly file out.
What should I do now? Emily wondered, uncertain, as the auditorium emptied.
Just as she headed for the exit, a woman approached.
Miss, Miss OConnor would like a word with you. Come, Ill show you the way.
Emily nodded and followed.
—
Emily! Hello! The voice was bright, familiar, but now transformed.
It was Sophie or not; she seemed utterly different. Beautiful even, not at all awkward like Emily had first thought.
Hello, Emily replied. Sophie? Or?
My real names Olivia, she said with a smile.
But Mark thinks youre head of a bank, that your parents are loaded None of that’s true?
Olivia shook her head with another wry smile. Not at all.
So what was the point of all this? Emily asked, baffled.
Mark hurt my friend. This was her idea. She wanted me to act the part shy, unassuming, but supposedly rich. He took the bait, dropped his real girlfriend, and latched onto me. I led him on as planned. Thats all there is to it.
Hmph Thats all. Emily remembered the money her parents had shelled out and felt sick. So, therell be no wedding? Your friend just wanted revenge for being ditched?
Olivia shook her head solemnly.
No wedding. Ill be breaking up with him soon he needs the lesson. Mark did worse than leave my friend. He crushed her confidence, told her hed never fancied her and was only after her money.
Emily shuddered. Mum wont handle that well, she thought.
I hope your parents finally deal with him and knock some sense into him, Olivia added.
Emily was speechless; so was Olivia.
After a moment, Emily coughed, But what about me? Why all the theatre and secrecy? Why invite *me*?
I just wanted to hand you this money, so you could give it straight back to your parents after I finish with Mark. If I gave it to them myself, theyd only go soft and nothing would change. Olivia handed over a thick bundle. Heres a list of every gift, with receipts. Want to check?
Emily glanced at it and shook her head. No, I believe you. How did you manage to seem so unremarkable?
Olivia laughed. Easy! Im an actress, after all.
—
Olivia kept her word and split with Mark. Maybe it was a shock for him; maybe not. Emily never found out for sure.
Mark, unsurprisingly, went crawling back to his parents, asking for money. Mum clutched her heart, Dad thundered.
Look at your mother! This is your doing! Dad bellowed. Out! Go on, get your own place and take care of yourself!
Mark whined, made promises, but Dad was resolute. Even Mum didnt try to defend him.
Mark snapped, made a call, shoved his stuff in a bag and left. Maybe he thought theyd beg him to stay but they didnt.
When hed gone, Dad muttered, We need to change the locks.
He fixed Emily with a stern look. And dont you dare let him back in! No sympathy!
Emily returned the money to her parents a few days later. Whether they were glad or not, she didnt know, but she felt lighter for it.
Mark tried a few times to repair things with the family, but they kept their distance. Emily spoke to him occasionally, but he always sounded discontented. Shed watch him and wonder: Did Olivia manage to teach him anything? Did he ever see how ugly his choices had become? Could people ever really change or did life keep battering some folk forever, with nothing to show for it?
