I Saw His Second Life

Synopsis

After three years of marriage, David Lane was sent by his company to Southport. He told me the project would last eighteen months, and he'd come back when it was over. I agreed. Every night, we video-called, and his background was always the plain white walls of his room. I never suspected anything until that day, when I flew to Southport early to surprise him. He'd sent me his location before, and I remembered it. It wasn't a hotel. It was an apartment complex. I stood at the entrance of the building, and when someone came out, I followed them inside. On the sixth floor, the apartment on the left had two pairs of slippers by the door. One was for a man, and one was for a woman with a floral pattern. I knew those men's slippers. I got them for David's birthday last year. I pulled out my phone and sent him a message. [Are you busy?] A few seconds later, David replied: [I'm working overtime. I'll call you later.] I stood at the door and heard someone talking inside. The woman's voice was soft and way too familiar. It was Emily Price from David's team at work. I had met her once at his company holiday party the year before. She had smiled and greeted me as she raised her glass for a toast. "David, where's the salt?" Emily asked. "The second jar to the left of the stove," David replied so naturally as if he'd been asked that countless times before. I didn't knock, didn't confront him, and didn't cry. As I stepped into the elevator, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. There was no emotion on my face at all. The flight back to Northgate took two hours.