Emma

Part 2.2

"Me? It's all the same... But enough about me," she said, snickering. "What about you? Tell me about your life since you went away. I remember a girl who followed us everywhere and was always complaining, who did nasty things to get us in trouble, and who couldn't stand when we left without her."

Emma chuckled.

"Yes... You could say I was a real pest. In my defense, it drove me crazy to see you do all those things I was forbidden to do. I think I was deeply jealous of you!"

"Yes indeed! It was very difficult to get close to you."

"I felt resentful and it got the better of me and of my relationship with both of you. That's why I turned to people of my own age. I met Denis when I was seventeen. We had a long-distance romance for two years until I went to stay with him in town. We got married and tried to build a life for ourselves reflecting who we were."

"What do you do for a living? Do you work?"

"Yes, I am an accountant. Nothing very exciting, I realize. And it's a lot less sexy than walking around in your swimsuit every day, but hey... It's my job!"

"Don't underestimate yourself, Emma. You may be married and an accountant," Alex said mischievously, "but I quite like picturing an accountant in a suit, wearing glasses, and sitting behind her desk... I can see you like that, and it's very sexy!"

Emma giggled and looked up.

"Yes, well, thank you for that image... It's nice that you wish to cheer me up!"

"I mean it..."

"Well, OK, if you say so!"

"Did you tell your boss you were leaving or..."

"Yes, I called him," Emma said, getting serious again. "It's a slow time, so I took a few days off."

"You don't have children?"

"No... Denis doesn't want any."

"Why not?"

"Denis is a very, well, he's a selfish person in fact! I believe I should never have married so young. For a few years everything was going well. Then he started to work in a company. He was totally invested in his job, he thought of nothing else and completely neglected me. He left early, came home late, and was all about work. He climbed the ladder one step after the other. I didn't lack anything, materially speaking, but... Our relationship suffered a lot. I talked to him about a baby... He refused outright, because he didn't want the screaming and crying when he got home from work. He didn't have time for that and he longed for quiet, not caring for one second what I wanted! Our intimacy took a hit at that moment."

Alex listened attentively without speaking as she went on.

"Three years ago, Denis's company faced serious financial difficulties and experienced a first wave of layoffs. Last year, it was my husband's turn and he didn't take it very well. I was working, he was staying at home. He started to drink, more and more every day. I often found him drunk when I came home. He changed, smothered me considerably, would blow me off one moment and want to kiss me later. His attitude became possessive and bordering on violence, but until today, I'd managed to keep him at a distance... I tried to support him, to coax him to get help, but... He's really macho, so he didn't want to hear anything, he had no intention of going to see a doctor and even less a shrink!"

"Why didn't you talk to Nico about it?"

"I told you, my relationship with my brother isn't the same anymore, and he never liked my husband... I know that."

"Yes, that's true, but he's your brother! He would do anything for you, you must know that anyway."

"Yes, maybe..."