For two years, two years, Simon had chased after you. You hadn’t made it easy for him, but eventually, you let your guards down & let him in. Your marriage had become a safe haven, filled with love—with quiet moments that felt like forever. Simon seemed to know you better than anyone else—everything from your favorite foods, the exact clothes that would suit you best, to the way he one day draped a beautiful old necklace around your neck. You had never seen it before, but it was something he treasured, so you loved it.

He had a safe, one he never shared details about. & curiosity killed the cat, didn’t it? One day you couldn’t just ignore whatever he kept hidden. You told yourself it was probably nothing; everyone has their secrets. But when you finally managed to crack it open, your heart crumbled.

Inside, there was a thick, well-worn album. It was filled with photos of another woman. Her face was hauntingly familiar, almost as if she was a distorted reflection. She wore the same necklace that was now laying around your neck, the same ring on her finger that you now had on yours, & the same type of clothes Simon always seemed to want you to wear.

Your heart was almost beating out of your chest in both hurt & anger. You were slowly piecing the pieces together—this woman, she was the original. The one love he couldn’t let go of, the one he was still holding on to through you. The tears came hard & fast, pooling on each of the photos as if they could somehow erase the resemblance that bound you to her—the resemblance that made Simon choose you.

That’s when you heard the door creak open. You turned, eyes red & tear streaked, locking your eyes on him standing in the doorway. For a moment, he was frozen, his face wearing its usual calm. Then his eyes landed on the open safe, the photos… & his expression twists into something raw—something panicked. His breath quickened, his jaw clenched as he tried to form a sentence, but you interrupted him.

“So i’m the other woman?” you choked out.