**Diary Entry**
Heart pounding, Vera paced her modest flat in Manchester, clutching her phone as another overdue credit payment notification flashed on the screen. How was she supposed to support her family when her daughter and son-in-law had become an unbearable weight on her shoulders? It all started when her eldest, 19-year-old Katie, announced she was pregnant and getting married.
Vera had always confided in her colleague, Natalie—a wise and compassionate woman who’d raised two daughters alone: Katie at 19 and ten-year-old Sophie. For years, Natalie had nothing but praise for them. Katie studied diligently at university, Sophie excelled in school, and despite the struggles of single motherhood, Natalie took immense pride in them.
Then, in her second year, Katie met *him*—her first love, Anthony. He wasn’t local, but after meeting him, Natalie approved. He seemed kind, genuine, nothing like a deadbeat. Soon, the pair decided to move in together—straight into Natalie’s cramped three-bed terrace house to save money. Natalie hated the rush—Katie was only 19, barely starting life—but she had no choice.
Space was tight already, and Anthony’s presence only made it worse. Then came the confession: Katie was pregnant, and they wanted to marry. Natalie felt the floor drop beneath her. Her daughter, barely an adult, was about to become a mother.
Anthony didn’t work—he and Katie were full-time students with no plans to switch to part-time studies. Yet they insisted on a lavish wedding, straight out of a rom-com. They booked one of Manchester’s priciest venues, invited half the city, and Katie demanded a designer dress like she was walking a red carpet. Natalie tried to refuse—she didn’t have that kind of money—but Katie clutched her stomach, bursting into tears: *”Mum, are you seriously scrimping on your own grandchild?”*
Gritting her teeth, Natalie paid for it all. She drained her emergency savings and took out another loan, hoping the newlyweds would wake up afterward—get jobs, stand on their own feet. But her hopes crumbled like a house of cards. Katie and Anthony stayed put, showing no interest in earning a penny.
Anthony’s parents gifted them a second-hand car for the wedding, so the couple cruised around town like they were on holiday—fuel paid for by his parents, who knew their son was broke. But groceries, bills, clothes? All fell to Natalie. The two didn’t even know the price of a loaf of bread. When she mentioned bills, Katie rolled her eyes: *”Mum, we’re *students*—what money?”*
Katie refused to compromise. She thrust a catalogue at Natalie—top-of-the-range prams and cots, each costing half her monthly wage. On an average salary, Natalie was floored. *”Katie, I can’t afford this! I’ve got your tuition loan, Sophie to raise—”* *”Are you serious?”* Katie snapped. *”You’re going to be a grandma, and you’re being this stingy?”*
Natalie’s blood boiled. *They* chose to have a baby—why was it *her* responsibility? She was breaking her back to keep them afloat, while they acted like they were living a fairy tale.
Then came the final straw. One evening, exhausted from work (late again, thanks to stopping for family groceries), she walked in to find Katie and Anthony laughing over a luxury baby magazine, picking out a crib worth *weeks* of her pay. Sophie sat quietly sketching in the corner, while a mountain of dirty plates loomed in the kitchen.
*”Am I supposed to clean up after you too?”* Natalie snarled, throwing her bags down.
*”Mum, come on,”* Katie sighed. *”We’re busy—we’re expecting!”*
*”You’re expecting, but *I’m* paying for it?”* Natalie’s voice shook with rage. *”Enough. Get jobs, or get out.”*
Katie sobbed, Anthony paled—but Natalie stood firm. She gave them a month to find work. *”Fail, and you’re moving in with Anthony’s parents. Let *them* foot the bill.”*
They pleaded, but Natalie was done yielding to tears. She loved her daughter, but this wasn’t love—it was self-destruction. One night, Sophie hugged her tight and whispered, *”Mum, I’d never do this to you.”*
Natalie smiled through her tears. For Sophie, she’d keep fighting. As for Katie and Anthony? Reality awaited—and Natalie wouldn’t be their lifeline anymore.
