Broken Code

Part 16

Simon must have sensed my turmoil after our last conversation about meeting in person. He didn't call. Days turned into a silent period, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the weight of what I needed to do.

Oddly enough, I didn't even know his phone number. He always called from a private number at the end of my workday, perfectly timed for when I was free to talk. His anonymity, once intriguing, now felt unsettling. Why did he hide his number? Did he think I might misuse it? But for what purpose?

As the days passed, I grew increasingly aware of how my connection with Simon was affecting not only me but also my husband, Mark. He'd started noticing the change in me—the irritability I could no longer conceal. No mask, no matter how carefully crafted, remains flawless forever.

One evening, he confronted me.

"Steff, is everything alright?" he asked, his eyes filled with concern. "I know you're busy, but maybe we need to spend more time together. Have I done something wrong?"

His words pierced through my defences, forcing me to question my happiness. Was I truly content in my marriage? I tried to convince myself that everything was fine, that work was simply consuming me. But deep down, I knew something was missing.

I began to feel the heavy weight of guilt for my thoughts about Simon. Our marriage had weathered a storm just a couple of years earlier, nearly collapsing under the strain of betrayal. A fleeting affair in the music world had spiralled out of control, leaving Mark consumed by guilt and me tormented by jealousy. I had no desire to relive that personal hell.

"It's fine," I replied, trying to keep my tone steady. "There's just a lot going on at work."

Mark studied me carefully, his gaze laden with unease. I knew I couldn't keep deceiving him indefinitely. And then, a new feeling crept in—a yearning to open up, to share everything that had been haunting me.

But how could I explain what was happening between me and Simon? How could I ask Mark to understand, to switch places with me and see things from my perspective?