All Saturday, Emily Johnson was busy around the house. She did a thorough cleaning of the apartment, washed the windows, laundered, and ironed the curtains. She loved it when the house was spotless and smelled fresh. Then Emily cooked a hearty beef stew and decided to bake something for tea. She settled on a cherry pie.

James, her husband, loved her pies, especially cherry, and she enjoyed spoiling her beloved husband with delicious homemade baked goods. After mixing the dough and preparing the filling, Emily checked the pantry and realized she was out of powdered sugar. She could have managed without it, but James loved it when the pie was dusted with powdered sugar.

And she herself liked everything to be perfect. So, she decided to run to the store, especially since they were also low on butter and rice. «Where are you off to?» her husband asked, noticing Emily pulling on a sweater and jeans.

«Just popping to the store; we’re out of a few things. I’ll be back to bake your favorite cherry pie,» she said. «Alright,» James nodded, his eyes glued to the TV.

Emily walked over to James and kissed him on the cheek, saying, «I’ll be quick, don’t miss me too much.» She left the apartment and was halfway down the stairs when she remembered she’d made a donation to a charity that morning, requiring her to enter her credit card details. Emily checked her wallet.

The card wasn’t there. Of course, she’d left it on the table, forgetting to put it back in her wallet. She had no cash, so she’d have to go back home for the card.

Emily climbed the stairs to their eighth-floor apartment. Though they lived high up, she rarely used the elevator unless she was carrying heavy grocery bags, preferring the stairs for a healthy bit of exercise. So, she leisurely made her way up and quietly opened the unlocked door.

As she stepped inside, she immediately heard James talking on the phone. Emily slipped off her shoes and headed to the bedroom to grab her credit card when a phrase stopped her dead in the hallway, making her listen closely to her husband’s conversation. «You’ve got nothing to worry about, sweetheart,» James said, and Emily realized he was talking to another woman.

Her husband continued, oblivious. «Lila, why are you getting upset? I’ve told you before, I haven’t loved my wife in ages. I’m only with her out of habit.

You know, Emily’s like a suitcase without a handle—hard to carry, but a shame to throw away. Tomorrow, she’s going to her parents’ all day, so we can meet up.

I’ll book a hotel room, order lunch, and your favorite champagne.» James paused, likely listening to Lila. Emily stood frozen, feeling a chill spread through her.

A suitcase without a handle. Was he really talking about her? Her beloved husband James, with whom she’d shared nearly fifteen years, the man she’d been a loyal and caring wife to, calling her a suitcase without a handle, too pitiful to discard. How could this be? It felt like a terrible, absurd nightmare.

«I love you so much, Lila,» she heard James say again. «We’ll be together, I promise. You know how much I want a real life, a child.

I’ve always dreamed of having kids. Emily can’t have them. Just give me a little more time, and I’ll tell her I love someone else.»

So that’s it! He wants a real family! A child! Emily thought, struggling to breathe as tears welled up. She couldn’t bear to hear any more of James’s sweet-talking with his mistress. Mustering her strength, she walked into the living room, where her husband lounged on the couch, phone in hand. Seeing her, he froze mid-sentence, then jumped up, saying, «I’ll call you back, Mr. Thompson,» and tossed the phone onto the couch.

«Emily, you’re back so soon?» he asked, trying to sound casual, though he was clearly flustered. «Forgot something?»

«So, I’m a suitcase without a handle to you?» Emily asked, staring into his eyes. «Hard to carry, but a shame to throw away?»

«What nonsense is that?» James forced a smile.

«What suitcase? You must’ve misheard. I was talking to my boss, Mr. Thompson. Couldn’t come up with a better excuse?»

Emily felt so disgusted she wanted to disappear. Her James, the strong, imposing man she loved and respected, was blatantly lying to her, spewing nonsense. «What’s that supposed to mean?» he asked, looking pathetic and foolish.

«I didn’t know your boss had a sex change and now everyone calls him Lila,» Emily replied. Realizing she’d overheard much of his conversation with his mistress and that he couldn’t convince her he was talking to his boss, James sank back onto the couch and, with a guilty glance at Emily, said, «You went to the store.

I thought you weren’t home. I see there’s no point denying it. Yes, I have another woman.»

«How long?» «Almost a year.» «I see. And when were you planning to tell me? Or were you not going to? You want a real family, kids.

And I’m just a suitcase without a handle.» Emily clenched her fists to keep from breaking down in front of him. «No, not now.

I’ll let myself cry later, when I’m alone. I already feel humiliated enough.

No need to sob in front of James.» «Why do you keep going on about the suitcase thing?» James snapped, slightly irritated. «I said it thoughtlessly.

I’m sorry. We’ve lived well together for so many years. Weren’t we happy?

I loved you. But I met Lila and fell head over heels, like a teenager. I couldn’t leave you because…» James faltered, unsure how to finish.

Emily finished for him. «Because you pitied me.» «Yes, I felt guilty,» he admitted.

«I’m the one who pushed for the abortion. I convinced you we were too young for kids.

That we needed to get on our feet first. I didn’t expect it would end so badly, that you’d never be able to have children. And I…» «Get out!» Emily interrupted.

She felt on the verge of tears. She couldn’t listen to James anymore, his words reopening a wound she thought had healed.

Now it throbbed unbearably. Emily wanted to be alone. She repeated, more firmly.

«Get out! Please, just go!» «Where am I supposed to go?» her unfaithful husband asked. «This is our apartment. I don’t care.

Go to your Lila or wherever. Just give me some space.

Please.» «Alright,» James said after a brief pause. «I’ll grab a few things and stay at a hotel for now.

Tomorrow, maybe I’ll rent an apartment. We’ll talk later, when you’ve calmed down and are ready to discuss what’s next.»

«I’ve already decided,» Emily replied, retreating to the kitchen and shutting the door tightly. She wanted to wait until James packed and left. Her gaze fell on the table, where a large bowl of dough sat next to a deep dish of juicy cherries.

To think, just half an hour ago, she was so calm and happy! Preparing to bake a pie for her beloved husband, oblivious to everything. How quickly things can change! Feeling tears stream down her cheeks, unable to hold them back any longer, Emily threw the dough into the trash, sat at the table, covered her face with her hands, and sobbed. Ten minutes later, she heard the door slam.

James was gone. «Well, that’s it,» Emily said to herself. She was utterly bewildered.

She couldn’t believe this had happened to her. She’d heard countless stories of infidelity and betrayal, always sympathizing with those affected, convinced it could never happen to her. James seemed as solid as a rock, loving, sincere, a real man.

And if he ever cheated, she’d surely sense it, knowing him so well. After all those years, they’d become one. Or so she thought, and now she couldn’t fathom how she’d been so wrong.

For nearly a year, her husband had been building a relationship on the side, and she hadn’t suspected a thing. He was still attentive, still kissed her before leaving for work, and rarely stayed late, always hurrying home. When did he even find time to meet this Lila? During work hours? Emily didn’t understand.

True, on Sundays, she often visited her parents, who lived on the other side of town, sometimes staying overnight until Monday and going straight to work from there. In the past year, her father had been ill, and she wanted to help her mom, who was exhausted from caring for him. And she couldn’t stop praising her husband, who supported her and never complained about her being gone every Sunday.

James said parents were sacred, and Emily was wonderful for helping her mom. She felt guilty leaving him alone when she stayed over, but he reassured her it was fine, that he was a grown man who could take care of himself, and her parents needed her help. Now it was clear her weekly absences were convenient for him.

He used that time to meet his mistress and was glad for the circumstances. Emily married James when she was very young, just nineteen. James was five years older.

She was a student at a teaching college, while he’d already graduated with an economics degree and worked at his father’s company. Young, charming, promising. Emily fell head over heels and, of course, said «yes» when James proposed.

Her parents tried to dissuade her from marrying so young, wanting her to finish her education first. But did a lovesick girl listen? She was so smitten she couldn’t imagine life without her James. A few months after the wedding, Emily realized she was pregnant.

She immediately shared the news with her beloved husband. But James wasn’t thrilled. He thought it over and said to his young wife.

«Em, how can we have kids now? My career’s taking off. You see how much I work. And you need to finish college.

Who’s going to help with a baby? Your parents and mine both work; they can’t babysit. You’d have to manage alone and put your studies on hold. Let’s wait at least three years.

Okay? This summer, we’ll go on a beach vacation somewhere. We’re still so young. I don’t want to dive into diapers and baby illnesses just yet.

We’ll have time. I want kids, but later.» James spoke so gently and persuasively.

Emily was so in love that his reasoning seemed sound. She herself wasn’t entirely ready for motherhood. She wanted to graduate, travel.

Her husband was right. They were so young. Why rush into kids? And Emily made a decision she’d later deeply regret, likely for the rest of her life.

It was a nightmare. That night, after the abortion, Emily felt terribly ill. An ambulance rushed her to the hospital with severe bleeding.

They barely saved her, but when she came to after surgery, the doctor told her she’d never be able to have children. She could still see the face of that elderly doctor, looking at her with pity and judgment, his words etched in her memory forever. What are you girls doing to yourselves? You could’ve had a healthy baby, and instead, you ended it and nearly died yourself.

And now, sweetheart, it’s over, and nothing can fix it. Oh, I feel so sorry for you, so young. You probably didn’t realize what a monstrous mistake you made.

Still groggy from anesthesia, Emily couldn’t believe what the doctor said. How could she never bear a child? Modern medicine worked miracles, but not in her case.

There could be no miracle. Instead, there were months of depression. An unwillingness to accept what happened and move on.

James also deeply regretted pushing for the abortion. He blamed himself and assured Emily it wouldn’t change his feelings for her. He loved her and would always be by her side.

He brought home a kitten to distract her from her sorrow. That summer, they went on a beach vacation. The change of scenery and new experiences helped Emily cope with her depression.

She didn’t blame James for what happened. She blamed herself. After all, the final decision was hers.

Emily came to terms with never having her own children and realized she had to live on. In nearly fifteen years of marriage, she and her husband never spoke of it again.

They lived for each other. They lived harmoniously, comfortably. James’s career flourished.

He earned well. After graduating, Emily started working as an elementary school teacher.

Teaching children she genuinely loved somewhat compensated for not having her own. Over time, the young woman even began to feel truly happy. A cozy home, a loving husband, and fulfilling work she chose with her heart.