Emily’s Desperation

Daniel had never been good at confrontation.

He preferred to avoid it — to let things settle like dust in the wind.

But when Emily showed up at his apartment uninvited, he knew there was no escaping this.

She stood in the doorway, wearing a fitted coat and heels that clicked against the floor like a warning.

"I know you don't want to talk to me," she said, voice calm but sharp. "But I need to."

Daniel exhaled slowly. "Emily…"

She stepped inside before he could say no.

"I'm not here to beg," she said, setting her bag down. "I'm just here to understand."

He closed the door behind her.

And for the first time in weeks, he was alone with her.

And it felt like a storm waiting to happen.

Emily was everything Daniel had once thought he needed.

Tall.

Confident.

Well-dressed.

She came from old money — her family owned a chain of luxury hotels across the country. Her father was a real estate mogul, her mother a former model turned philanthropist.

She had grown up in a world of private schools and charity galas — the kind of life where everything was handed to you, but nothing ever felt earned.

She was studying Business Management at Evergreen University — a year behind Daniel, majoring in something that made sense in a boardroom but not in a heart.

They had met at a campus networking event — the kind where young professionals dressed up and pretended they had their lives together.

She had walked up to him with a smile and a glass of wine.

"You look like someone who actually knows what he's doing," she had said.

He had laughed.

And that was how it started.

Daniel had told himself he was done with the past.

That he had moved on.

But as he watched Emily now — poised, elegant, and clearly hurting — he remembered how hard she had tried to make him happy.

She had loved him.

That much was clear.

She had tried to give him everything — late-night talks, spontaneous dates, and even a weekend trip to the coast when he had been struggling with work stress.

And yet, something had always been missing.

He had told himself it was just him.

That he was broken.

But now?

Now he wasn't so sure.

Maybe it had never been her.

Maybe it had always been Sophia.

Emily turned to face him, arms crossed.

"You stopped calling," she said quietly.

Daniel looked away. "I told you why."

"No," she whispered. "You told me you needed space. But you never told me why."

He didn't answer.

She took a step closer. "Was it her?"

Daniel stiffened.

Emily saw it.

And she didn't look away.

"Was it Sophia?" she asked again.

He didn't say anything.

And that was answer enough.

She let out a quiet laugh — bitter, resigned.

"I knew there was something," she murmured. "From the way you looked at her that first day. From the way you talked about her without realizing it."

Daniel finally met her eyes. "I didn't know what I was feeling until recently."

Emily tilted her head. "And now you do?"

He swallowed hard. "I think so."

She studied him for a long moment — not with anger, but with something close to understanding.

Then she said, "I met her yesterday."

Daniel blinked. "You did?"

"At the study group," Emily said. "She didn't know I was coming. I didn't tell her."

Daniel frowned. "What did you say to her?"

Emily gave him a long look. "I didn't have to say much. I could see it in her face."

Daniel's chest tightened.

Emily continued, "She loves you."

He flinched.

Emily's voice softened. "She's been loving you for a long time."

Daniel didn't speak.

Emily gave a sad smile. "I guess I was just the girl who came in second."

Daniel looked at her — really looked — and whispered, "You weren't second."

Emily shook her head. "You don't have to lie."

"I'm not," he said. "You mattered. You made me feel something."

She smiled faintly. "Just not the same thing she does."

Daniel stayed quiet.

And the silence was louder than any confession.

Daniel remembered the event clearly — a university networking mixer hosted by the business school.

He had gone alone.

Emily had been there — already in her second year, already a name among the upperclassmen.

She had walked up to him with that same confidence she wore like armor.

"You look like someone who doesn't belong here," she had said.

He had smirked. "You're right."

She had sat beside him, sipping wine like it was water.

They had talked.

About everything.

About his past.

About his work.

About the life he had built away from his parents.

And somewhere in the middle of that night, he had felt something.

Not the same thing he felt with Sophia.

Not the quiet ache of first love.

But something close to peace.

Something stable.

Something safe.

And he had held onto it.

Until he couldn't.

Emily looked around his apartment — modest, cozy, filled with books and old photos of Nathan and him.

"You still haven't told her, have you?" she asked.

Daniel shook his head. "Not yet."

Emily exhaled. "You should. Before someone else does."

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I saw how she looked at you," Emily said softly. "Like she was trying not to break."

Daniel swallowed hard.

Emily added, "If you don't tell her soon… she'll walk away."

He looked at her — really looked — and whispered, "I don't want her to."

Emily gave him a long, knowing look.

"Then stop letting her feel like she's second-best."