The reflection that stared back at her through the bathroom mirror didn't resemble the woman she thought she knew well - herself. The mascara-stained face of the woman in the mirror was that of a liar, a cheat ... a whore! And the tears began to roll down her cheeks once more as she sobbed softly to conceal her torment at what she done that night.
Fifteen minutes, that’s all it took. Fifteen minutes of lustful sex. Fifteen minutes of uninhibited sexual pleasure with her husband’s best friend and business partner. Fifteen minutes which had changed her life completely.
Still heartbroken with her own act of deceit, she gazed at the reflection and asked softly, “How could I?” But the woman staring back at her could not reply as the guilt she felt inside wouldn’t allow the truth to escape her lips. “What am I to do now, you stupid bitch! Answer me!” She quickly brought both hands up to cover her mouth and silence the sudden outburst, not wishing to wake her husband who was sleeping in the bedroom at the end of the landing.
She began to realise the consequences that would follow if her husband ever found out the truth of her unfaithfulness, which only added to her agony. “He’d leave me, wouldn’t he? He’d take the children with him. I’d be left alone ...” But the woman in the mirror could only look back with self-pity in her eyes. If she were to confess it would not only end a successful and loving 10-year marriage, but it would also end a successful business partnership and life-long friendship. There was no option but to continue with the deceit and hide her shame forever, taking the truth to the grave with her.
“Please forgive me ...” she begged the reflection. The reflection remained silent.
Through Pauline’s eyes the end of the first chapter was indeed a cliffhanger, and she was looking forward to reading the second chapter the following night. But now she needed to rest her eyes after a very tiring day. She turned on her side and planted a gentle kiss on Patrick’s cheek, adding softly, “I would never do that to us, my darling.” Then after fluffing her pillows and turning off the bedside light, she relaxed back and closed her eyes for sleep.