‘Rachel?’ Bianca looked as though she’d seen a ghost as she opened the front door. Her eyes were open wide with concern and shock as she gazed at Rachel standing there.
‘Oh Bee, it’s all gone horribly wrong. Can I stay here?’ Rachel sniffed, wiping her nose with a crumpled tissue she’d found in the bottom of her handbag.
‘Of course.’ Bianca opened the door and took Rachel in her arms. ‘What’s happened? Is it Mark?’ she asked gently.
Rachel nodded, her eyes filling with tears again. ‘We’ve broken up,’ she croaked. ‘He doesn’t love me anymore.’ Rachel’s face wrinkled as she said the words.
‘Oh Rachel, I’m so sorry. I’m just so, so sorry. Come through to the lounge. Let me get you a drink,’ Bianca suggested kindly.
Rachel let Bianca lead her into the lounge and sat on the sofa. ‘It’s come out of nowhere. I don’t know what I’m going to do,’ Rachel said, feeling helpless. The rug had been pulled from under her feet. She couldn’t believe she was here, instead of at home making dinner and wondering what to watch on television for the evening. Everything had happened so quickly.
Bianca looked awkward. She felt really bad for Rachel and it was a surprise seeing her in such a vulnerable state. Rachel was the strong one in their friendship. Rachel didn’t get upset about the little things like Bianca did. She was the one who was normally comforting and reassuring Bianca for whatever reason. Rachel had been the lucky one. She was the one with the job she loved and the boyfriend she adored. She was the first one to kiss a boy, lose her virginity and get into a serious relationship. It was Bianca who went out on the countless bad dates and struggled to find a nice man to settle down with.
‘Can I get you a drink? I can open a bottle of wine if you like?’ Bianca offered.
‘No, I’m fine,’ Rachel exhaled. ‘Well, I’m not fine, I’m completely heartbroken, but the thought of eating or drinking makes me feel sick.’
Bianca gave a little nod and sat down slowly opposite Rachel. ‘What did he say?’ Bianca asked in a small voice, her large brown eyes full of sympathy.
‘That he loves me like a friend,’ Rachel confessed, rolling her eyes. ‘Just what every woman wants to hear,’ she said sarcastically. ‘There’s nothing I can do about that, is there? I can’t make it better. I can’t say I’ll stop nagging him as much, or that I won’t be as possessive or whatever other things men hate. Because I don’t do any of those things and it’s not because I’ve done anything wrong, it’s because he doesn’t love me anymore. It’s the worst possible thing he could say.’ She closed her eyes trying to prevent the tears again. ‘I’m just hoping he says he’s made a mistake. I’m praying that because I’ve actually left him, he’ll change his mind.’ She laughed uncontrollably. ‘I’m pitiable, aren’t I? I just don’t know what’s going on anymore. I just want him to want me back.’
Bianca shifted on the armchair and stared at Rachel with a frown. ‘Perhaps it’s for the best?’ she replied optimistically. ‘You’ll meet someone else, Rach, you know you will. You always do. Maybe Mark just wasn’t for you?’
‘I don’t want to meet someone else,’ Rachel moaned, shaking her head and blowing her nose. ‘Mark was nice. He was reliable, loyal and dependable. My parents love him. My friends love him. He was the one,’ she stated firmly, her chin wobbling. ‘I thought I was going to be spending the rest of my life with him. I can’t explain it…’ She broke off. Bianca had never had a long-term boyfriend, so she couldn’t possibly know how she felt. Bianca’s relationships usually lasted no longer than a month. She had no idea what Rachel was going through, couldn’t ever know the pain she was feeling – not that Rachel was about to voice this for fear of hurting her feelings.
‘I just keep thinking I should have known,’ Rachel continued. ‘But I didn’t. I honestly thought everything was fine between us. I knew things weren’t perfect, but that’s life, right? No one’s relationship is perfect. The longer you’re together the more comfortable and relaxed you get. That’s just how it goes. What does he actually want?’ Rachel said, raising her shoulders.
Bianca sat quietly looking down at the floor. ‘You’ll meet someone else,’ she practically whispered.
‘I’m sure I will eventually,’ Rachel nodded, rubbing her nose and desperately trying to find some positivity. She knew this was going to be difficult, but she would get through it. She had great friends and family around her for support. She wasn’t the first person to go through a break up and she certainly wouldn’t be the last. She was aware things could be much worse. Somehow, it would be okay again one day, she did know that deep down. She just needed to get over the shock and hurt. ‘I really thought I had the right man,’ she explained, shaking her head in puzzlement. Then the thought suddenly hit her, as though a light switch had been turned on inside her head. ‘Oh my God. Say he’s already seeing someone else? I didn’t even ask him. How could I not have asked him? He could be leaving me for another woman. Have you seen him with anyone at work? Do you ever speak to him?’
Bianca’s eyes darted around the room, like she was afraid to answer and Rachel instantly felt tension in the room.
‘No, I don’t see him at work. Well, sometimes I see him. Like occasionally, but it’s not often … I … he … we work on different floors,’ Bianca replied, appearing a little flustered and uncomfortable.
Rachel frowned, wondering if Bianca was hiding something from her, when her eyes landed on a black jacket hanging up outside in the hallway. A feeling of sheer dread hit her like a tidal wave. She felt sick to the core as she stood up and walked over to it, her hands shaking as she reached out for the jacket.
‘Rach? What’s wrong? What are you doing?’ Bianca asked, watching in horror as she picked up the jacket and opened it.
Rachel prayed that she was wrong. She hoped with every single fibre of her being that it couldn’t possibly be true. She opened the jacket and when she saw the pink nail varnish stain inside by the pocket, it took her breath away as though she’d been punched. She knew then exactly why Mark had broken up with her. She pivoted and stared at Bianca in disbelief.
‘This is Mark’s jacket,’ she stated calmly, adrenaline pumping through her.
‘No it’s not,’ Bianca replied quickly, her face turning a shade of pink. She let out a nervous laugh. ‘Why on earth would Mark’s jacket be here?’
‘It’s Mark’s jacket,’ Rachel stated with certainty, ignoring her, her index finger touching the stain. ‘I had just painted my nails once when he asked me to grab his phone from the pocket because he was in the bath. You see this mark here?’ Rachel pointed to the pink smudge. ‘This was because my nails were wet still. I felt really bad about it afterwards, though you can’t see the stain from the outside. Mark was always particular about his clothes. He takes good care of them.’ She shot Bianca an intense gaze. ‘Why is Mark’s jacket here?’
Bianca’s eyes were as round as saucers. ‘Rachel, please let me explain…’
‘I got you that job at Mark’s firm,’ Rachel interrupted. ‘It was me, you know. I begged him to get you in there. I told him how down you were and how bad I felt for you getting made redundant. He didn’t want to get involved at first; he kept telling me it was a bad idea in case you weren’t any good and he’d been the one to recommend you so it wouldn’t look good on him, but I kept on about it, singing your praises and persuading him to do it. I’ve been a good friend to you, haven’t I?’
Bianca gave a weak nod, looking away.
‘Yes,