**”We Love You, Son, But Please Dont Visit Us Again.”**
An elderly couple spent their entire lives in a quaint little cottage, as weathered by time as they were. Yet, they had no desire to leave.
In the evenings, they often reminisced about their lives, recalling countless happy memories. Their children were grown now, with families of their own. Their daughter, Eleanor, lived in the nearby village and visited often, bringing their grandchildren along to keep life lively. But their son, William, had moved far awaytoo busy with work and responsibilities to visit in five years, often holidaying abroad with his second wife. Recently, hed called to announce he was coming home.
The news thrilled his parents. His father, Henry, cycled to the market to buy groceries, while his mother, Margaret, planned a feast to welcome their beloved son. They counted the days until his arrival. Williams first marriage had endedhis ex-wife had always preferred adventure to settling down. Theyd had no children, and now he was building a new life.
William arrived by car late in the evening, ate supper, and went straight to bed. His parents sat quietly beside him, simply gazing at their sontoo exhausted from the journey to talk much.
Henry whispered cheerfully, *”Our boy will sleep well tonight. Tomorrow, hell help chop firewood, muck out the stable, and fetch a Christmas treejust like old times. We havent bothered with decorations for years.”*
Margaret added, *”And the pantry floor needs fixing before one of us falls through.”*
Henry soon went to sleep, but Margaret lingered, adjusting Williams blanket and fluffing his pillow.
At dawn, Henry stoked the fire to warm the house for his son. Margaret baked scones, filling the cottage with a comforting aroma. William woke near noon, declaring he hadnt slept so soundly in years. After breakfast, he turned on the telly and lounged on the sofa.
Margaret ventured, *”Son, could you help your father with the firewood?”*
*”Mum, Im only here a few days. Let Dad handle itor light the sauna instead.”*
Silently, the elderly couple hauled water from the well for the sauna.
At lunch, Henry asked, *”The stable needs mucking out. Youre young and strongcould you manage it?”*
William scoffed, *”You think Im not tired from work in the city? I came here to rest, not labour.”*
That evening, after the sauna, William opened a bottle of whisky and complained about his lifehis expensive flat, his pedigree dog, his dissatisfaction with work, and how no woman understood him. His parents, exhausted, excused themselves to bed. Offended, William announced hed visit his sister instead*they* were boring. Margaret pleaded with him not to drive, snatching his car keys. He nearly kicked down the door in frustration before storming off to his room, blasting the telly at full volume.
His parents lay awake, unable to sleep. Henry eventually checked on William and, finding him snoring, turned off the television.
The next morning, William wandered the woods, returning chilled but grateful for the warmth and a cuppa on the sofa. Hed forgotten yesterdays outburstbut Margaret nursed a headache all day.
As they packed homemade jams and pickles for him, William said, *”Youve given me so much! My wife will adore theseshes never tasted proper preserves. We have everything in the city, but I wont refuse. OhI forgot your Christmas gifts, but next time!”*
Margaret wiped a tear. *”Dont come back, son. We love you, but if all you want is to lounge, you can do that at homewith a fancier telly, too.”*
William knew hed hurt them but couldnt find the words. With a wave, he drove back to London, where the chaos of his life awaited.
**Sometimes, love means knowing when to let gonot to punish, but to preserve the dignity of what once was.**
