Lucy

Lucy used to be the life of the party. With her vibrant personality and infectious laugh, she was always surrounded by friends at university. She was a top student, balancing her social life with her academic responsibilities.

Everything seemed perfect, especially with her boyfriend, John, by her side. They had been together for two years, and she believed he was the one.

But then, without warning, everything came crashing down. John broke up with her, claiming he needed to “get close to his wife.”

The breakup hit Lucy like a bolt from the blue, leaving her heart shattered. Her friends tried to reach out, but she shut everyone out, sinking deeper into a dark pit of despair.

***

Lucy sat on the couch in a stretched-out T-shirt and shorts, clutching a large box of chocolates. Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, but she ignored it.

She was skipping her final year at university, eating snacks and sweets, and crying into her pillow.

Days turned into a week, and Lucy’s apartment reflected her state of mind. Clothes were strewn everywhere, dirty dishes piled up in the sink, and the air was thick with the smell of neglect.

She sank into depression, forgetting to shower or being too lazy, and she already smelled quite unpleasant. Her cat, Mr. Whiskers, meowed hungrily, nudging an empty food bowl.

“Not now, Mr. Whiskers,” Lucy muttered, wiping her eyes. “I just… I can’t deal with anything right now.”

Mr. Whiskers, desperate for food, started pawing at a half-eaten sandwich on the coffee table.

“No! Get away from that!” she yelled, startling the cat.

He bolted, knocking over a glass of water.

“Great, just great,” Lucy groaned, burying her face in her hands.

Her friend Megan called out from the doorway, “Lucy, you can’t keep doing this! It’s been a week!”

“Leave me alone,” Lucy muttered, her voice muffled over the pillow.

“He dumped me, Megan. Out of nowhere!”

Megan sighed, walking over to open a window, and letting some fresh air in.

“I know, but you need to get back on your feet. Take a shower, please. You smell like you’ve been living in a candy factory.”

Lucy frowned, pulling the pillow tighter.

“I just can’t. It all feels pointless.”

Megan sat down next to her.

“Listen, how about this? Why don’t you go out for a coffee tomorrow? Just get out of this apartment for a bit.”

Lucy knew she couldn’t continue like this.

“Alright, I’ll go out for coffee tomorrow. Maybe… maybe that’s a start.”

Megan smiled. “Good. We’ll get through this together, Lucy.”

Susan

Meanwhile, across town, Susan was the epitome of success. A high-powered professional, she juggled her demanding career with a seemingly perfect marriage.

Susan and John had been married for five years, and they were the ideal couple to the outside world. Susan had worked hard to build her career and was proud of the life she and John had created together. They had a beautiful home, shared hobbies, and enjoyed traveling.

But lately, cracks had begun to appear.

John often stayed late at work, and while she had no concrete proof of a mistress, she once found red hair on his clothes and smelled women’s perfume.

That evening, Susan confronted John as he walked through the door.

“We need to talk.”

John chuckled, kicking off his shoes. “About what, honey?”

“About where you were last weekend,” Susan demanded.

“I told you, it was a business trip,” John said, his smile never wavering.

“Your boss called looking for you, John. There was no trip.”

John’s smile faltered for a moment before he laughed it off. “Come on, Susan. You’re overthinking it. You know I love you.”

Susan felt her heart sink. “This isn’t a joke, John. I need to know the truth.”

He leaned in, kissing her cheek. “You’re my only one, Susan. Trust me.”

The Two Women Collide

The next day, Susan entered a coffee shop before starting her workday. She was dressed in a sleek suit with perfectly styled hair and makeup.

She hoped the aroma of fresh coffee would calm her nerves.

At the same time, Lucy entered the same coffee shop, looking entirely different. She wore a stretched-out sweater; her noticeable odor turning a few heads. She had barely slept, and it showed.

Lucy, juggling her coffee and a bag of pastries, bumped into Susan, spilling coffee all over Susan’s pristine suit.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” Lucy exclaimed, grabbing napkins in a frantic attempt to clean up.

Susan’s eyes flashed with irritation.

“Do you have any idea how much this suit costs? How could you be so careless?”

Her voice was sharp, slicing through the hum of the coffee shop. Lucy, already on edge, snapped back.

“I said I’m sorry! It’s just coffee! Maybe if you weren’t standing right in the middle of the place like you own it, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Susan’s patience, already worn thin, snapped.

“Excuse me? Do you know who you’re talking to? Look at yourself! You’re a mess! When was the last time you even showered?”

Lucy’s eyes filled with tears of frustration.

“You have no idea what I’m going through! My boyfriend dumped me, okay? I’ve been a mess, and I don’t need some perfect stranger judging me.”

Susan’s anger softened slightly, but she was still fuming.

“Everyone has problems, but that doesn’t mean you can go around making other people’s lives harder.”

Lucy threw her hands up.

“Oh, I’m sorry! Not everyone can be as perfect as you. Some of us have real issues.”

“You think my life is perfect? My husband John is cheating on me! With a redhead like you! I look like this because it’s the only thing keeping me from falling apart.”

Lucy stared at her, stunned. “What did you say your husband’s name was?”

“John.”

Lucy gasped, the pieces falling into place. “My ex-boyfriend’s name is John. Are we talking about the same guy?”

“Wait! I have a photo.” Susan showed the screen on her phone.

“Oh, no! That’s him!” Lucy grabbed the phone to look closer.

The two women stood there, staring at each other, realization dawning. Their anger shifted from each other to the man who had deceived them both.

“Looks like we have a lot to talk about,” Susan said, her voice steadying.

“Yeah, we do. And I think we should make sure he gets what’s coming to him.”

Together, they sat down at a corner table to discuss their further plans. They spent the next hour sharing their stories in detail.

Susan talked about the nights she spent alone, waiting for John to come home, and Lucy described how she had lost her motivation for everything after the breakup.

“We can’t let him destroy us,” Susan said firmly. “We have to take back our lives.”

Lucy agreed, “But how?”

“We’ll figure it out together,” Susan said. “Let’s start by getting you back on track.”

The Transformation

Over the next week, they met every day. Susan helped Lucy re-enroll in her studies.

“You’re too smart to throw this all away,” Susan encouraged.

Lucy, in turn, provided Susan with emotional support, making sure she didn’t bury herself in work. They spent time at Lucy’s place, cleaning and organizing.

“This feels so much better,” Lucy said, looking around her now tidy kitchen.

In the evenings, they relaxed with cocktails.

“You’re really good at this,” Susan remarked as Lucy handed her a perfectly mixed drink.

“Thanks,” Lucy smiled. “It’s nice to feel useful again.”

Their bond grew stronger with each passing day. Susan even brought over some of her clothes for Lucy to try on.

“Here, this will look great on you,” Susan said, holding up a stylish dress.

“I feel like a new person,” Lucy said, admiring her reflection.

“You are a new person,” Susan replied.

As they talked, the idea of confronting John on his birthday came up. But until then, the women decided not to confront him.

They spent the next few weeks living their best lives. Susan took time off work, learning to relax.

Lucy re-engaged with her studies, feeling more like herself with each passing day.

Finally, the day of John’s birthday arrived.

The Revenge

Susan prepared a surprise for John’s birthday with meticulous attention to detail. She gathered their friends at their home, filling the living room with decorations, balloons, and a large banner that read “Happy Birthday, John!”

The room buzzed with excitement as everyone waited for John to arrive.

At quarter past seven, the front door creaked open. John walked in, looking tired but smiling.

“Surprise!” everyone shouted, filling the room with cheers and applause.

John’s eyes widened in delight.

“Wow, this is amazing! Thank you all so much!” He walked over to Susan, kissing her on the cheek. “You’re the best, honey.”

Susan smiled, but there was a steely glint in her eyes. “I couldn’t have done it without a little help.”

John looked puzzled. “Help?”

At that moment, Lucy stepped forward from the back of the room. She was dressed sharply, a stark contrast to the disheveled girl she had been just weeks ago. John’s smile faltered as he recognized her.

“What’s going on?” John stammered.

Susan stepped closer to John, her voice calm but firm.

“She’s here because she helped me plan this surprise. The last surprise before our divorce. And she’s been very helpful in more ways than one.”

John glanced around nervously as murmurs spread through the crowd. Some of the friends looked confused, while others exchanged knowing glances.

Susan continued, “You should also thank her because we prepared this surprise together. With your mistress.”

Gasps filled the room as the full weight of Susan’s words sank in. John’s face turned pale, and he stumbled backward.

“What are you talking about?”

Lucy stepped forward.

“You know exactly what we’re talking about, John. You’ve been lying to both of us.”

One of the friends, Mark, shook his head in disappointment. “I knew something was off about you, John.”

Another friend, Emily, muttered, “I can’t believe he would do something like this.”

People began to leave, casting angry glances at John.

Within minutes, the room was nearly empty, leaving only Susan, Lucy, and John.

John looked around, desperate. “Susan, please, this isn’t what it looks like!”

“No more lies, John. Your behavior is disgraceful. You need to file for divorce and apologize to both of us.”

John’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “I’m sorry, I really am. I never meant to hurt anyone.”

“It’s too late for apologies, John. We both deserve better.”

***

After the divorce, John disappeared from their lives. Susan and Lucy, now true friends, supported each other through the aftermath.

Lucy eventually graduated and landed her dream job. She felt a sense of accomplishment she hadn’t known in a long time.

Susan, too, found balance in her life. She learned to prioritize her well-being alongside her career, rediscovering her self-confidence.

The two women often reflected on how far they had come, realizing that their shared pain had forged an unbreakable bond.

One sunny afternoon, they met at their favorite coffee shop.

“Can you believe how much has changed?” Lucy said, sipping her latte.

“It’s incredible. We’ve both grown so much. I’m proud of us.”

“Me too. And to think it all started with that awful day in this very coffee shop.”

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