“Where to? And wholl cook for us?”
“What on earth are you doing? Where are you going? And whos going to cook for us now?” asked her bewildered husband, watching as Evelyn packed a bag after yet another row with his mother.
Evelyn glanced out the window. A dreary, grey haze hung in the air despite it being early spring. In their little northern town, sunny days were rare. Maybe thats why the locals always seemed so gloomy and unfriendly.
Lately, Evelyn had noticed her own reflectionher face rarely smiled anymore, and the permanent frown etched into her forehead made her look older than she was.
“Mum! Im going out!” called her daughter, Lily.
“Fine,” Evelyn nodded.
“Fine? Give me some money first.”
“Since when do walks cost money?” Evelyn sighed.
“Mum! Seriously?” Lily snapped, losing patience. “Theyre waiting for me! Hurry up! And why so little?”
“Its enough for ice cream.”
“Youre so stingy,” Lily muttered, dashing out before Evelyn could reply.
Evelyn shook her head, remembering how sweet Lily had been before the teenage years hit.
“Evie, Im starving! Whens dinner?” her husband, Thomas, bellowed impatiently.
“Go and eat,” she said flatly, setting a plate on the table.
“Arent you going to serve me?” he asked.
Evelyn nearly dropped the pan. What was he on about?
“We eat in the kitchen, Tom. Take it or leave it,” she said, sitting down herself.
Fifteen minutes later, Thomas finally shuffled in.
“Cold gross.”
“Shouldve come sooner.”
“I asked you! No love, no care at all! You know Im watching the match!” he grumbled, shoving a piece of chicken into his mouth. “Tastes awful.”
Evelyn just rolled her eyes. Football had turned him into someone she barely recognisedgambling, merch, overpriced tickets. He was obsessed, though hed never cared about sports when they were younger.
Without sitting down once, Thomas grabbed a beer to “cheer up,” some crisps “for hunger,” and stomped back to the telly. Meanwhile, Evelyn stayed to scrub the dirty dishes.
No one appreciated her.
She was exhausted after her shift as a senior nurse at the hospital. Every day brought stress at work, and at home, instead of peace, she had another jobfetch, carry, clean.
“Any more drinks left?” Thomas rummaged in the fridge. “Whys there nothing?”
“You drank it all! Should I buy more? Have some shame, Tom!” Evelyn finally snapped.
“Someones touchy,” he scoffed, slamming the door as he left to restock for the next match.
Evelyn decided to sleep earlytomorrow would be another long day. But she couldnt drift off. She worried about Lilywhere was she? Who was she with? It was dark now, and still no sign of her. Calling always led to a row.
“Are you trying to embarrass me in front of my friends? Stop calling!” Lily would shriek. So Evelyn stopped, telling herself Lily was eighteen now. She didnt want to work or studyjust “find herself” after finishing school.
Shed barely dozed off when Thomass roars woke hersomeone mustve scored. Then he and the neighbour, whod “dropped by” and stayed, started loudly debating the game. The neighbours girlfriend joined in, and by midnight, Lily clattered in, banged some plates, and stomped off to bed. Just as silence fell, the cat yowled to be fed.
“Can no one else in this house feed the cat?!” Evelyn stormed out, migraine pounding. Lily had headphones on and just tapped her forehead mockingly. Thomas snored in front of the telly, beer can in hand.
“Ive had enough I cant take this anymore,” Evelyn thought.
The next morning, her mother-in-law called.
“Evelyn, dear, dont forgetits time to plant the vegetables. And the cottage needs tidying.”
“I remember,” Evelyn sighed.
“Well go tomorrow.”
Her only day offspent under her mother-in-laws watchful eye at the allotment.
“Are you sweeping like that? Hold the broom properly!” the older woman barked from her bench.
“Im nearly fifty, Margaret. I can manage,” Evelyn dared to reply.
“My Thomas would never do it like that”
“And where is your son? Why didnt he drive you here? Whys it a three-hour bus ride for us? Its always Thomas this, Thomas that”
“Hes exhausted.”
“And Im not?”
Then it began. Evelyn regretted speaking up. Margaret loved justiceher version of it, which never included Evelyn. Her whole life, Margaret had praised Thomas while treating Evelyn like a beast of burden she merely tolerated.
The women rode home on opposite ends of the bus. The next day, Margaret complained to Thomas, who erupted.
“How dare you raise your voice at my mother?!” he shouted. “If it werent for her”
“What?” Evelyn folded her arms. She realised she wouldnt take this anymore.
“Youd still be at the clinic!” he shot back, reminding her Margaret had pulled strings to get her the hospital job. The pay was better, but the stress had aged her. More than once, Evelyn wished shed stayed at the quiet clinic.
“What are you doing?” Thomas fell silent, stunned by what Evelyn did next.
Evelyn had done the one thing Thomas never expected. *And it felt like freedom.*
**Sometimes, the hardest step isnt walking awayits realising you deserve to.**
