The Perfect Husband
Right on the dot at 6 oclock, Emily stepped through the front door.
Hey, love! How was your day? her mum called from the kitchen.
It was fine, Emily mumbled. Everything was as usual her friends hung about after school, but she had to head home straight away.
Why on earth did she have to be home at exactly 6pm? Why? Who had invented this silly rule?
Emily changed out of her uniform and wandered into the kitchen.
Mum, she started, testing the waters. Its summer now… summer!
And? her mum looked at her over the kettle.
Well, it doesnt even get dark until much later
And?
Emily felt herself getting frustrated. Surely her mum could follow her train of thought!
I could easily come home at 7pm instead, couldnt I?
Her mum just smiled knowingly. Emily, we have rules in this house, and coming home at 6 is very much one of them. Get into uni next year and youll have more freedom then.
Emily sighed well, at least that was something.
She ate quickly and went to her room to revise. She was desperate to get some independence from her parents.
………..
The summer flew by, then autumn and winter, and soon it was spring.
Emily was on edge. Exams were looming; she needed top marks to get into university! Then then, shed finally taste freedom
One afternoon, walking through the park, she sat down on a bench, puzzling over whether shed picked the right uni and if the course was really for her. Was it too late to switch paths?
Afternoon, gorgeous! a cheeky, unfamiliar male voice piped up.
Emily jumped, turning to see a boy with friendly features beaming at her. He looked sort of familiar, but she couldnt quite place him.
He mustve read her face, because he grinned. Im Michael. We live in the same block, just different stairwells. Remember in primary school, ringing the bell on your first day? I was the one who picked you up! That jog your memory?
Emily smiled of course! How could she have forgotten?
I got off early today and fancied a stroll round the park, he went on. Saw you sitting here and thought, well, that must be fate!
Fate? she blinked at him.
Well, I havent seen you in ages but I still recognised you. Figured I should say hi.
They chatted for a while, and before she knew it, Emily was agreeing to meet him again at the same spot, same time, the next day.
………..
Emily slipped into the flat as quietly as possible, but her mum heard anyway. There was some random small talk in the hallway.
Mum, I literally just got in let me change and wash my hands, please! Emily pleaded.
Her mum shrugged it off and went back to the kitchen, and Emily escaped to her room, grinning and a little short of breath. Michael had actually told her shed blossomed and that hed fancied her for ages and he was so glad to bump into her.
She gazed at her reflection in the wardrobe mirror, twirling a bit, winking and sticking her tongue out at herself.
Thats how, out of nowhere, Emily found herself seeing an actual grown-up boy.
…………….
Michael ticked all the boxes for Emily smart, sensible, always saying her parents were right about uni and that she had to study hard.
Theyd meet during the day, stroll through town, go to the cinema, or pop into a cafe. Michael helped her with revision, and if she struggled with anything, hed explain. Thanks to him, getting into university was a breeze. The very next day, Michael turned to her and said,
Em, you know what?
What?
Marry me!
Emily gasped and blushed.
Marry? But but Ill be at university, Ill be studying
Dont worry, Michael winked, youll get a part-time job, work and gain experience. When you graduate, theyll be queuing up to hire you.
It hit Emily like a ton of bricks her dreams were coming true! If she married Michael, shed finally get out from under her parents thumb. Besides, she was in love. So she said,
I will.
Brilliant! Lets visit your parents Saturday, mine on Sunday.
My parents? Emily squeaked.
Of course! Dont worry, itll be fine, Michael reassured her.
He was right, too. Emilys parents warmed to Michael, didnt oppose the marriage, and soon enough, it was all sorted. That night, Emilys mum popped into her room, searching her daughters eyes.
Are you sure about this, love? Youre still so young…
Absolutely, Mum, Emily promised.
……
Well, that was that. Emily and Michael signed the register. Emily wouldve loved a big white wedding, but decided to support her new husbands wish for simplicity, so they just did the paperwork.
She began her studies at uni, and, after a bit, Michael set her up with a four-hour-a-day job. She should have been happy, but instead, she felt blue.
How had she ended up here? Emily thought escaping her parents would mean total freedom, but now it was Michael and his mum keeping track always giving advice, always checking up on her.
Sometimes, she dreamed of being alone at least at home, she could retreat to her own room. In Michaels place, there was always someone else there. Uni was her only sanctuary.
Uni felt like another universe: carefree and fun. She made new friends, heard all about their nights out, adventures and parties, but she couldnt join in Michael didnt let her. She listened jealously, sighing to herself.
Dont worry, said her friend Will, clapping her on the shoulder, youll have your fun one day.
Emily just smiled sadly.
…………..
The years rolled by first, second, third, fourth. Emily made it through uni, a huge milestone yet somehow, a trivial one too. Her marriage to Michael was falling apart.
You cant get anything right! Michael hissed.
How many times do I have to tell you? Four years and you STILL cant get me ready for work properly!
Why are you like this?!
At first, Emily endured his criticism in silence, but eventually, she snapped back. She didnt understand it everything had seemed fine before; now, suddenly, he was picking fights.
Hes in love with someone else, her mate Sophie declared one day. He just needs a reason to tell you he wants a divorce.
Emily shook her head, unable to believe Sophie.
Youre so naive, Em, Sophie sighed.
Then, the worst happened. Sophie had been right. Michael had been seeing someone else for ages, and now he wanted a divorce.
…………..
Emily found herself at a reunion party with her old uni crowd, brooding. For years, shed imagined this is what she wanted but now, it meant nothing. More than a year had passed since the split, yet the sadness lingered. What hurt most was that shed devoted herself to Michael, and he hadnt valued it. Even now, when hed remarried and his mum occasionally called Emily to complain about her new daughter-in-law, who apparently treated Michael badly, he still wouldnt choose Emily.
Oi, Em, why the long face? Will nudged her, trying to be upbeat. Youre here, arent you? This is what you wanted youre finally at a party with us!
This party just feels a bit dull. Emily said quietly.
Dull? Nah. Youre just not emotionally invested! You need to be the one throwing the party. Then youd have a blast.
Hmm. Blast, right, Emily grumbled.
So, whens your birthday, again? Will persisted.
Not for a while…
Will thought for a bit. Well, what about a wedding? Would you enjoy your own wedding?
That question snapped Emily out of her funk. For the first time in ages, interest flickered in her eyes.
Maybe… I mean, I never really had a real wedding, she admitted. Then her face fell again. Shame theres no one to marry.
She sighed.
What do you mean, no one? Will threw up his hands. What about me? Im the perfect groom!
Emily stared, trying to tell if he was joking.
I mean it! So what do you say? Lets get married, have a huge party, and divorce the next day if you like. Sound good?
Emily burst out laughing.
There, see? Im good for cheering people up! So, shall we?
Will gave her those big puppy-dog eyes, and Emily played along:
Alright. Why not, then. Im in.
Will clapped her on the shoulder. Brilliant! Tomorrow, were off to the registry office.
…………….
Emily, of course, never seriously planned to marry Will. But in the end, he turned up, met her parents, and announced theyd decided to get hitched. He even dragged a reluctant Emily to put the paperwork in.
Will, dont you think the jokes got a bit out of hand? Emily asked.
What joke? Will replied, deadly serious. This is the real deal.
That evening, Emilys mum once again peered into her room, worry written on her face.
Are you sure about this, love?
Emily shrugged, playfully. Dont overthink it, Mum. Well just get married for a laugh and call it off right after! Honestly, we never had a proper wedding with Michael, and I just want to feel like a real bride for once.
Well, alright then, her mum replied, heading back downstairs.
And just like that, they had a wedding.
Did Emily and Will split up afterwards? Of course not! Theyre still together now, raising two children, and happier than ever.
