To Stay Human It was a bleak and blustery mid-December afternoon in the town of Newbridge. The snow barely covered the ground, and the local bus station, with its ceaseless draughts, felt like the last stronghold of frozen time. Scents of buffet coffee, disinfectant, and fading hopes lingered in the air. The glass doors banged in the wind, ushering in another wave of shivering faces flushed from the cold. Margaret hurried through the waiting hall, double-checking the time on the station clock. She was only here in passing—a quick business trip to a neighbouring town had ended ahead of schedule, and now she had to reach home, two connections ahead. This bus terminal was the first and dreariest stop. Her tickets were for the evening coach. With three hours to kill, she felt the damp boredom of the place seep into the lining of her expensive coat. It had been a decade since she’d last seen these parts; everything appeared shrunken, faded, slowed down, and impossibly distant from her current life. Her heels tapped sharply on the tiled floor: an out-of-place figure—expensive sand-coloured wool coat, flawless hairstyle intact despite the journey, leather crossbody bag. Her analytic gaze swept the room: a kiosk attendant bored over her phone, an old couple quietly sharing a bun, a man in a battered parka staring into space. She felt the nearby eyes—not hostile, just registering: stranger. And she silently agreed. She only needed to endure this, to push through space and time like a bad dream. By tomorrow morning, she’d be back in her cosy city flat, warm and far away from the bone-chilling gloom of the provinces. Just as she was deciding where to sit, her path was blocked. A man. Sixty-something, maybe older. Weathered face, ordinary, the kind of face you don’t remember. His coat was patched but clean, and his ushanka hat dangled from his fingers. He hadn’t stepped in front of her; he just seemed to materialise from the grey air. He spoke in a soft, oddly flat voice. “Excuse me… miss… could you tell me where to get a drink of water?” The question hung awkwardly in the air, odd as the scene itself. Automatically, barely glancing at him, Margaret gestured towards the kiosk with its weary vendor and rows of gleaming bottles. “Over there. At the kiosk,” she said, starting to move past. Annoyance, sharp and petty, pricked at her. “To get a drink.” And “miss.” Archaic, out of place—couldn’t he see for himself? He nodded, murmured thanks—yet didn’t move. He stood, head bowed, as though gathering the strength for a few paces. His hesitation, his helplessness before a trivial task made Margaret, almost past him now, pause. She saw—not his clothes, not his age. She saw beads of sweat rolling down his temples, even in the chill hall. Fingers kneading the old hat in spasms. Lips pale, his glassy gaze lost somewhere near his shoes, unseeing. Something shifted inside her. Her haste, her irritation, her sense of superiority—all crumpled in an instant. No time for thought; something primal took over. “Are you all right?” Her own voice surprised her, gentler, without its usual metallic ring. She didn’t dodge him now, but stepped in. He lifted his eyes. Not pleading—just confusion and defeat. “Just—dizzy… Blood pressure, maybe,” he whispered, eyelids fluttering as if remaining upright cost him all his strength. Margaret acted on instinct. She took his arm—a steady, but careful grip. “Don’t stand. Let’s sit, here…” Her voice was quiet but commanding, guiding him to a nearby bench. She crouched down before him, forgetting her appearance. “Sit back, breathe. Steady now. Don’t rush.” She hurried to the kiosk, returned with a water bottle and plastic cup. “Here, sip this.” From her coat pocket she produced a paper tissue, gently dabbing his brow. Her entire being was focused on this man: his ragged breaths, the stuttering pulse beneath her fingers. “Help, please!” Her strong, clear call sliced through the station’s stupor. Not panic, but command. “He needs an ambulance!” Suddenly, the station came alive. The old couple were first to react, a woman bringing tablets. The man who’d been dozing dialled emergency services. The kiosk attendant emerged. Others, previously invisible, gathered round. They became a community, united by a sudden crisis. Margaret, beside him, kept murmuring reassurance, hands clasping his cold fingers. For that moment, she was neither a high-powered businesswoman nor an outsider. She was simply a fellow human being. And it was enough—more than enough. Then, in a breath of cold December air and the burst of a siren, two paramedics hurried in, blue jackets streaked with red crosses. Their arrival reset the room. People parted to make way, silence fell. Margaret met the paramedic’s professional, weary eyes. “What happened?” asked the woman, kneeling by the man, her moves swift and precise. Margaret reported clearly, no longer metallic but drained with relief. “He felt faint, dizzy, sweating a lot. Said it was his blood pressure. He’s had water and a tablet. Seems stable.” As she spoke, the other medic took his vitals. The man could now answer softly: name, age, medications. The paramedic nodded to Margaret. “You did the right thing with the water. We’ll take him to the hospital for a check and a drip.” Helping him up, the man turned, searching for Margaret. Their eyes met. “Thank you, love,” he rasped, gratitude shining through. “You… might have saved my life.” Margaret said nothing, only nodded, empty now where adrenaline had burned. She watched them leave, the white ambulance looming through the doors as the cold whistled in. Someone grumbled, “Close the door, it’s freezing!” The door slammed. The siren faded, and the lounge eased back into sluggish waiting. People dispersed, their slow movements resuming. Margaret remained standing. On her hand, red lines—the pressure from her bag. Her hair undone, coat rumpled and stained from kneeling. She wandered to the cramped bathroom, bracing herself with cold water. The cracked mirror reflected smudged makeup, tired eyes, dishevelled hair, a face she’d not recognised in years. Not polished by success, but alive—with worry, compassion, exhaustion. She dried off and returned to the bench, still with an hour to wait. From the same kiosk, Margaret bought a water bottle—this time for herself. The water was cool, unremarkable, but now seemed the most important thing in the world. Not just a drink, but a connection. A simple, human connection, born at the very moment someone stops seeing another as background or nuisance—just as a person. She noticed details now: the kiosk attendant bringing tea to an old lady; a man helping a mother with a pram. These small kindnesses built a picture—not bleak, but gentle and vital. Margaret checked her phone. A work group chat pinged—some issue with reports. Two hours ago it would have mattered. Now she typed: “Postpone till tomorrow. It’ll be fine.” And switched off notifications. Today she remembered an old truth. The world needs masks: professional, prosperous, impassive—they’re costumes for each scene. But it’s dangerous if, underneath, your skin forgets how to breathe. If you start believing you’re just the mask. Today, that mask cracked, and something real escaped—a breathless fear for another. The readiness to kneel on a dirty floor, unabashed. To be just “the young woman” who helped, not Ms Parker, Head of Department. To stay human doesn’t mean shedding all masks. It means remembering what’s beneath them. And, sometimes, as today, letting the real, vulnerable self come into the light—just to reach out a hand.

Author Wanda MirandaReading 9 minViews 3

Staying Human

Mid-December in the town of N was bleak and windswept. A thin layer of snow barely covered the ground. The local coach station, with its ceaseless drafts, felt like a remnant from another time, clinging on in defiance of progress. The place smelled of vending machine tea, bleach, and old newspapers. Glass doors slammed in the wind, ushering in brief gusts of biting cold and a steady stream of people with pink, weather-chapped cheeks.

Charlotte hurried across the waiting hall, glancing up at the wall clock. She was here by happenstance. A quick business trip to a neighbouring town had wrapped up early, so now she faced a journey home involving two tedious connections. This station was her first and by far the dreariest.

Her ticket was for the evening coach. Now, she was killing three long hours, feeling the melancholy of this place seep through the lining of her expensive wool coat. She hadnt set foot in towns like this for a decade, and everything seemed smaller, faded, slower, and a world away from her current life.

Her heels tapped clearly on the cracked tiles. She looked decidedly out of place blond hair impeccably styled even after a long journey, a camel-coloured cashmere coat, a leather crossbody bag clutched close.

Her gaze, honed from years of discerning and filtering, slid over the room: a bored kiosk attendant scrolling on her phone, an elderly couple quietly sharing a packet of digestives, a man in a battered jacket staring into nothingness.

She could feel eyes on her not hostile, just confirming the obvious: an outsider. She couldnt disagree. She only needed to wait it out, get through this brief exile, as one gets through a bad dream. By tomorrow morning, shed be back in her cosy London flat, with the warmth and light that seemed impossibly remote just now.

As she was considering the least miserable seat, her path was blocked.

A man, perhaps in his early sixties maybe older. Weathered face, unremarkable in its ordinariness. He wore a patched but tidy windcheater and a well-worn tweed cap, now in his hands, perhaps having removed it for the warmth indoors. He hadnt stepped deliberately into her way; he just stood suddenly there, as if conjured from the grey station air. His voice was quiet, oddly flat and monotone.

Excuse me Miss Any idea where I might get a drop of water round here?

The words hung awkwardly between them, out of place like the whole encounter. Charlotte, barely glancing at him, waved a hand towards the kiosk with its yawning attendant and shelves lined with plastic bottles.

Over there. At the kiosk, she tossed over her shoulder, moving to sidestep him. She felt a brief prickle of irritation A drop of water. Miss. It all sounded rather old-fashioned. Why not just look for himself? It was obvious.

He nodded, barely audible, Thank you but didnt move. He stood there, head bowed, as if drawing up the strength just to attempt those few steps. His hesitation and helplessness over such a simple task made Charlotte, already veering away, pause and glance at him a moment longer.

She noticed. Not the jacket, nor his age. But the tiny pearls of sweat at his hairline, trickling down despite the chilly hall. His hand wrung his cap in fits. There was a curious pallor to his lips, and his eyes seemed glazed, unseeing yet focused somewhere in the floor.

Something inside her lurched. Her rush, her frustration, her sense of superiority it all caved in at once, as if a carefully built world within suddenly cracked. She didnt have time to think. Some deeper human instinct took over.

Are you feeling alright? she asked, her own voice surprising her with its gentleness, devoid of its usual bite. She stepped towards him now, no longer circling around.

He looked up into her face. There was no plea for help there only embarrassment and confusion.

My blood pressure or something Dizzy… he murmured, lids fluttering as if it took all his effort to stay on his feet.

On instinct, Charlotte reached for his arm gently but firmly.

Come on, lets get you sat down, her tone was soothing, steady. She guided him to a bench shed only just been walking past.

She got him seated, then crouched in front of him never mind her coat or what anyone thought.

Lean back. Breathe easy. Slowly now.

She darted to the kiosk and returned swiftly with a bottle of water and a flimsy plastic cup.

Here. Small sips, please.

From her pocket, she fished out a paper tissue, dabbing his forehead without a second thought. Her focus narrowed in on the man his uneven breathing, the faint pulse at his wrist under trembling fingers.

Excuse me! Someone call 999 we need an ambulance! Her voice shattered the hush of the station commanding, decisive, not frantic.

The station woke up. The previously invisible couple was the first to help; the woman fished out some aspirin. A dozing man in the corner jumped up, dialling for an ambulance. Even the kiosk attendant came out from behind her counter. Others sidled closer all those previously faceless, blending into the bleak background, were now a community joined around one sudden crisis.

Charlotte, still beside him, spoke quietly, steadied his hand in her own. In that moment, she wasnt a high-flying manager nor some misplaced outsider. She was simply present a human being. And, as she realised, that was enough.

In the hush that followed, the piercing note of sirens broke the quiet. Medics in blue NHS uniforms strode in, breath trailing behind them in the December air.

The response was immediate the crowd parted respectfully, forming a path to the bench. The bustle faded to silence. Charlotte, still kneeling, looked up and locked eyes with one of the paramedics professional, kind, weary.

Whats happened? asked the paramedic, kneeling to check the patient over, efficient and quick.

Charlotte replied as clearly as she would in any board meeting, but now her words were edged with relief, not detachment.

He felt faint, dizzy, sweating heavily. Complained about his blood pressure. We gave water, someone found some aspirin. Seems stable now.

While she spoke, the second paramedic was checking his pulse and blood pressure, shining a torch in his eyes. The man managed to whisper his name, age, list off his medication.

The paramedic nodded to Charlotte. You responded well. The water was the right call. Well take him for a check at A&E, pop him on a drip.

They helped him to his feet. Wobbly, he leaned heavily on the medics arm, but paused, twisting round to find Charlottes face in the little crowd. He fixed his eyes on her.

Thank you, love, he rasped the gratitude in his voice so sincere it lodged tight in Charlottes throat. You may have just saved my life.

Charlotte only nodded, lost for words, an odd emptiness flooding in where the adrenaline had been. She watched as they led him outside to the bright-liveried ambulance, cold air swirling through the open door. Somewhere, a voice grumbled, Close that door, its freezing!

The door slammed, sirens wailed off, and the coach station returned, hesitantly, to its old, sluggish rhythm. People drifted back to the benches, their movements slow, resigned.

Charlotte stood rooted, looking at her own hands red welts where her bag had dug in. Her hair was a mess, makeup smeared, fine coat creased, and the hem dirtied from her crouch.

She walked slowly to the washroom. Cold tap water stung her skin. She stared in the chipped mirror: smeared mascara, tired eyes, untidy hair. A face she hardly recognised. Not the polished veneer of her successful woman look, but one unshielded candid, emotional, vulnerable.

She wiped her face, tossed away the tissue, went back to the waiting hall. She still had well over an hour to wait.

Charlotte went to the same kiosk, bought a bottle of water this time, for herself. She took a sip. It was nothing special; cool, bland tap. Yet in that moment, it was the drink she needed most. It was a link plain, human connection, which forms the instant we stop seeing others as background noise and start seeing them as fellow people.

She watched the faces around her: the kiosk attendant quietly passing a hot cuppa to the old lady with a walking stick; a young man helping a mother carry her pram inside. These overlooked gestures blended together less a picture of gloom now, and more of a place alive with compassion, marked by the quiet rules of mutual care.

Charlotte glanced at her phone. A work chat glowed with a trivial report mishap. Only hours ago, shed have been flustered by it. She typed a quick reply: Can sort it tomorrow. Then, she switched off notifications.

Today, I remembered a simple truth. The world needs masks the mask of success, the mask of confidence, the mask of composure. Theres a place for all of them. But its dangerous if the person beneath forgets how to breathe. If you start believing you are only the mask.

Today, in this cheerless station, my mask cracked. Through it slipped something genuine the instinctive fear for another, the willingness to kneel on dirty tiles, not caring how it looked. The ability to just be Charlotte, the woman who helped, not Ms. Harrington, department head.

Staying human doesnt mean giving up all the masks. It means never forgetting whats underneath. Sometimes, like today, it means letting the true self emerge, just long enough to reach out a hand.

“Don’t You Dare Touch My Mum’s Things,” My Husband Warned — “These clothes belong to my mum. Why did you pack them up?” my husband asked, sounding like a stranger. “We need to get rid of them, Dave. They’re taking up half the wardrobe, and I need the space for our winter duvets and spare pillows—everything’s scattered everywhere.” Olga continued, practically, pulling modest jumpers, skirts, and summer dresses belonging to her late mother-in-law from their hangers. Margaret Ferguson had always hung up her clothes with care to keep them neat—something she’d taught her only son. Olga, on the other hand, forever had chaos in her wardrobes, diving in each morning to hunt for the right blouse, always complaining she had nothing to wear, then furiously attacking the crumpled clothes with her steamer; everything looked like it had been chewed up and spat out. It had only been three weeks since Dave said his final goodbye to his mum. Margaret had needed care—mostly palliative by that point—and peace and quiet. Stage four cancer had taken her in just a month after Dave brought her home. That evening, coming back from work, he found her things strewn in the hallway like unwanted junk, and he froze. Was that it? Was this how his mother’s memory would be treated? Dumped and instantly forgotten? “Why are you staring at me like I’m the enemy, Dave?” Olga shot back. “Don’t touch these things,” Dave hissed through gritted teeth, so furious he lost feeling in his hands for a moment. “What do we want with all this old rubbish?” Olga snapped, growing aggravated. “Want to turn the house into a museum or something? Your mother’s gone, accept it! You should’ve looked after her like this when she was alive—maybe visited more, actually known how ill she was!” Her words hit Dave like a whip. “Leave, before I do something I’ll regret,” he said, his voice trembling. Olga scoffed, “Yeah right. Madman…” Everyone who disagreed with Olga was automatically ‘mental’. Still in his coat, Dave marched to the corridor cupboard, pushed open the top doors, climbed onto a stool, and fetched one of their checkered moving bags—there were about seven from their last move. Carefully, he folded and packed all his mum’s belongings: her jacket, her shoes, each piece handled with care, placed just so. His three-year-old son toddled alongside, dropping his toy tractor into the bag for good measure. Finally, Dave rummaged in the hall drawer, found a key, and pocketed it. “Daddy, where are you going?” Dave smiled sadly, gripping the front door handle. “I’ll be back soon, mate, go to mummy.” “Wait!” Olga called, suddenly anxious. “Are you leaving? Where? What about dinner?” “Thanks, but I’m full up on your attitude towards my mum,” he shot back. “Oh come off it, Dave,” Olga grumbled. “Where are you off to at this hour?” Without responding, Dave left, bag in hand. He started the car, leaving the drive, heading towards the motorway. The stream of cars drowned out every other thought: work stress, holiday plans, the silly Facebook pages he liked to read to unwind. Everything shrank before the heavy, slow-moving thought sludging through his head like a tortoise: only a few things really mattered—his kids, his wife, and his mum. He blamed himself for her death—always busy, always something getting in the way. She’d never wanted to trouble him, so he’d postponed visits, called less, listened less and less. Three-quarters of the way there, he stopped at a roadside diner for a bite, then drove the next three hours straight. Once, he noticed the sunset—a blood-red split in the western sky, like the sun fighting not to slip off the edge of the world. In darkness, he reached the quiet village, dented lanes, and eventually pulled up outside his childhood home. In the dark, everything was unfamiliar. Dave fiddled with the gate, lighting the way with his phone; five missed calls from his wife. Not tonight. Let the mobile stay on silent. Blossoms from the dying cherry tree gave off a sweet, heavy smell, night moths flitting through its ghostly pale petals. Cloudy windows reflected the night sky. Dave unlocked the first door, groped for a switch, and a dusty bulb flickered on. By the door, his mum’s old garden slippers waited. By the next door, leading into the house, her battered blue house shoes with two red bunnies on the toes—the ones he’d bought her for Christmas eight years ago. He paused, staring at them, then shook himself, opened the door, and stepped inside. Hi Mum, were you waiting for me? No—no one in this house waited for him any more. The air held the smell of old pine furniture and a trace of damp. The house was quick to get musty; you had to light the fire constantly, or mould crept in. On the dressing table: her hairbrush, a plain set of cosmetics, a bag of value pasta. In the lounge, the only new thing stood out—a sofa Dave had bought with the telly for his mum. The kitchen fridge, wide open, was empty—no one left to live here now. Mum’s old bedroom opposite—her bed piled with pillows, covered with a crocheted throw. Dave sat on the edge. Once, that had been his room. Mum and Dad used the bigger room down the hall. His brother’s bed had been tucked against the wall, with a desk by the window. Now, a sewing machine occupied that space—Mum adored sewing. She’d swapped the spare bed for a wardrobe, her wardrobe. Dave sat in silence, staring at the wardrobe like a ghost. His eyes glazed over. He put his head in his hands, hunched over, face on his knees, and began to sob—huge, choking, hidden sobs. He sobbed for all the words he’d never said as he sat beside her, holding her hand on her last day. He’d been struck dumb, a statue, watching her fade, a thousand unspoken words stranded in his throat. Mum had whispered, “Don’t look at me like that, Dave… I was so happy with you.” He’d wanted to thank her—for his carefree childhood, for her kindness, for sacrifices and love, for always being there, for that feeling of being safe, always welcome, no matter what mistakes he’d made. But he’d just sat, stone-faced, unable to find the words. Sometimes it’s impossible—everything sounds dated, overblown, clumsy to a modern ear. Our times have lost the language for real emotion; it’s all cynicism and sarcasm these days. He turned off all the lights and fell asleep on her bed without undressing, careful not to disturb the neatly made sheets. He found a blanket on the chair. He hadn’t expected sleep to be so easy. In the morning, as always, he woke at seven on the dot—no matter how late he’d stayed awake. Dave collected the bag from the car. Birches lined the lane, dressed in new green leaves, standing like young debutantes of spring. Their branches soaked up the sun, ready to warm the earth. He breathed in the birdsong, the fresh air—so lucky to have grown up here, not in the city. He stretched, loosened up, and hauled the bag to his mum’s wardrobe. One by one, Dave unpacked his mother’s clothes, carefully laying them on the shelves. Hung the dresses and blouses, her shoes lined up below. When he finished, he stepped back. For a moment, he saw her right there, beaming at him, dressed in one of those blouses. She always smiled with that mum’s smile, saying “I love you” without words. He ran a hand over the hanging row of clothes, then hugged the whole lot, breathing in that familiar scent… Stood there, lost. He had no idea what would happen to these things—just that for now, they stayed. Eventually, he remembered the present and rang work. “Hi, Tony, I can’t make it today. Family emergency. Will you manage without me? Thanks.” And a brief message to his wife: “Sorry I lost my temper. I’ll be home this evening. Love you.” Flowers edged the garden path; daffodils in full bloom, tulips just opening, lilies of the valley near the gooseberry bushes. He gathered a bunch of each, splitting them into three bouquets—there were three waiting for him at the churchyard. Popping by the village shop, he remembered he hadn’t eaten. Grabbed some milk, a roll, and a chocolate bar. “Oh, morning, Dave! Back again already?” said the shop lady. “Yeah…just visiting Mum,” he said, looking away. “Right. Want any crumbly cheese? Fresh in from the farmer. Your mum always had some.” He looked at her. Was she having a go? No, just a kind-hearted soul. “Erm, go on then. And you—how are you, Irene?” She waved it off. She’d been Margaret’s mate. “Don’t ask, love. My Terry’s a lost cause—he drinks and drinks.” He ate his breakfast at the graveyard, dividing the bouquets over three gravestones: daffodils, lilies, tulips; brother, father, mother. Brother went first—a fall from a roof, just twenty years old. Dad, five years ago. Now Mum. He left them chocolate, broke off some cheese for Mum. Their faces smiled at him from the photographs on the headstones. He talked to them in his mind. Remembered the mischief with his brother. Remembered going fishing at dawn with Dad, expertly casting the line. Remembered Mum yelling across the lane, “Daaave! Dinner!” in a voice that carried for miles—how he used to cringe in front of his mates. How he wished she’d call him like that now. Dave stood, stroked the wooden cross on his mother’s grave, the earth still fresh and new. “Mum, I’m sorry… I didn’t look after you well enough. We were living our own lives, but without you, it’s just empty. There’s so much I want to say to you, and to you too, Dad. You were the best parents in the world—I’m so grateful… How did you do it? Me and Olga, we’re just selfish. Me, me, me, mine, I want… Thank you for everything. And you too, Charlie, mate, thank you.” Time to go. Dave walked down the path, picking wild grass and chewing the soft stalks. On the first street, he ran into Terry, Irene’s son. Already drunk and down on his luck. “Oi, Dave! Back again?” Terry slurred. “Yeah… Came to see the folks. You still drinking?” “’Course, it’s a holiday.” “What holiday?” Unexpectedly, Terry pulled a tiny page-a-day calendar from his shorts, torn to yesterday’s date. He flipped it. “World Turtle Day! See?” he said proudly. Dave smirked, “Right. Listen, Terry… Look after your mum, she’s a diamond. And she won’t be here forever. Remember that.” He walked on, leaving Terry looking confused. After a moment, Terry called out, “Yeah, alright, mate. Take care, Dave!” “Yeah, goodbye,” Dave replied, not looking back.

Marrying a Disabled Man: A Story Thank you all for your support, your likes, reviews, subscriptions, and a HUGE thanks for all your generous donations from me and my five feline companions. Please feel free to share any stories you enjoy on social media—every little bit brings joy to this author! My daughter came home late from her shift at the hospital, where she works as a nurse in trauma care. She spent ages in the shower, then wandered into the kitchen in her dressing gown. “There are some meatballs and pasta in the frying pan,” I offered, trying to read her face for clues, “Long day, Lucy? You look shattered. Is everything alright?” “I’m not hungry. I’m already hideous as it is, and if I eat now, no one will ever look at me,” Lucy muttered darkly, pouring herself a cup of tea. “Don’t talk nonsense,” I protested, “There’s nothing wrong with you, love. You’ve got lovely eyes, and your nose and lips are perfectly fine. Stop being so hard on yourself!” “It’s just… all my friends are married already, and I’m not. The only men interested in me are the awful ones. The ones I like don’t even notice I exist. What’s wrong with me, Mum?” she frowned, looking to me for answers. “You just haven’t met your person yet, that’s all! Your time will come,” I tried to reassure her, but Lucy just grew more upset. “My eyes are small, my lips are thin, and just look at my nose! If we had money, I’d get plastic surgery. But we’re poor, so I’ve decided I’ll marry some guy with a disability. There are men at the hospital who’ve lost limbs after car accidents—most of their girlfriends leave them. What else am I supposed to do? I’m thirty-three, I can’t wait around forever!” “Oh, Lucy, don’t say that,” I blurted out in distress, “Look at your father—his legs aren’t the best, either. I was hoping at least my son-in-law would be able to help in the garden at the allotment. It really would make a difference. How are we supposed to manage otherwise?” Then I caught myself and rushed to explain, “Don’t get me wrong, Lucy, but why tie yourself to someone with a disability? What about Alex from next door? He’s a good lad, has had his eye on you for ages. He’s strong, your babies would be healthy, and you know—” “Mum, please!” Lucy protested. “Your Alex can’t hold down a job, he loves a drink, and what would I even talk to him about?” “You don’t have to chat much! I’ll tell him to go dig over the garden and then come in for tea. Or I’ll send him to the shop. He’s a good sort, really. Maybe you two would get on?” I suggested hopefully, but Lucy just pushed her tea away and stood up. “I’m off to bed, Mum. Honestly! I thought you at least believed there was nothing wrong with me, but you’re just like everyone else—you think I’m an ugly duckling, too.” “Lucy, darling, don’t be silly,” I called after her, but Lucy just waved her hand. “I’m done, Mum!” And she shut her bedroom door right in my face. She lay awake for hours, thinking about the young man who’d arrived at the hospital recently. He’d lost his leg below the knee—a slab had crushed him in a derelict building due for demolition. Nobody came to visit this young fellow, not even thirty, and at first, after surgery, he’d look at Lucy with pleading eyes, clutch her hand. But then, once the shock wore off, he just stared at the ceiling, silent and withdrawn. For some reason, Lucy felt sorrier for him than for the others—maybe because no one ever came to see him. “Do you think I’ll walk again?” he asked, not looking at her. “Of course you will, you’ll heal—you’re young,” Lucy said, trying to sound certain. “They all say that. Try living without a leg—see how it feels,” he snapped, turning his face to the wall like it was her fault. “Well, why did you go in there, anyway?” she fired back. “Thought I saw something,” he muttered, and now whenever she entered his room, he’d turn to face the wall. Lucy couldn’t help but notice his eyes—icy blue and cold, but his face was handsome. It seemed so unfair, what had happened to him… “You pity me, don’t you? I can see it,” he said, catching her gaze. “That’s all anyone can do now—pity me. No one could ever love me like this.” “No one loves girls like me, either, even with both arms and legs, because I’m just not right. No one even pities me—maybe I’d be better off missing a leg, at least then someone would feel sorry for me,” Lucy shot back, eyes burning with self-pity. But then, for the first time, Michael (that was his name) smiled at her. “You’re mad—you think you’re not attractive? I’d give anything to be with someone like you, honestly,” he said quietly. Lucy looked at him, bright-eyed, and for some reason, she believed him. So she blurted out, “Well, what if I chose you? Would you marry me?” Then, when he just stared at her, speechless, she added, “If you don’t answer, I’ll take that as a no!” She stood, headed for the door, her feelings hurt. Michael struggled up on his elbows, trying to sit up as if to chase after her, then, remembering the leg, he called out, “Lucy, marry me! I promise, soon no one will even guess about my leg. I’ll recover. Please, don’t go, Lucy…” Lucy stopped in the corridor, on the verge of tears—but somehow, she knew this was it. The One. It didn’t matter about noses or eyes or missing legs—they’d found each other. Her time had come, just like her mother had said… Michael threw himself into rehabilitation with determination. He wanted to marry this wonderful girl, to be strong for their future together. He longed for Lucy to feel needed and cherished. He needed her—he wanted nothing more than to live by her side. “Are you in love at last, sweetheart?” I asked her quietly one day, “Look at you, all glowing—didn’t you say you weren’t pretty?” Lucy didn’t try to deny it. She walked on air, her biggest wish now that Michael would manage with his prosthesis. They walked together more and more, starting in the hospital courtyard, then through the snow-covered, twinkling pre-Christmas streets… “That’s where the building collapsed on me,” Michael showed her one day. “Why did you go in there, anyway?” Lucy asked. “You’ll laugh—I saw a puppy in there, a black and white stray. I thought he’d freeze to death. I wanted to take him home—didn’t want to be alone anymore.” They saw a skinny dog nearby, watching them warily. “That’s probably him!” Michael grinned, and the dog trailed them all the way home. “At least Lucy’s found herself a lovely husband—good looking, younger than her, with his own flat and no mother-in-law!” her friends teased at the wedding. Lucy’s mother shed a tear when Michael called her “Mum.” Michael was raised in care and had no family of his own. He was kind, thoughtful—and most importantly, they truly loved each other. Allotment gardening didn’t matter anymore—though Michael took on every task happily and made a success of them all. Now Lucy, Michael, and their dog Kuzma live together. Soon, they’ll be four—their daughter is on the way! Never give in to despair. If you do, you might miss your chance at happiness. After all, life’s greatest beauty is its unpredictability…

“Don’t Dare Touch My Mum’s Things,” My Husband Warned “These clothes belong to my mum. Why on earth have you packed them up?” my husband asked, his voice suddenly unfamiliar. “We’ll get rid of them. Why do we need this stuff, Mark? They’re taking up half the wardrobe, and I need space for winter duvets and spare pillows—the house is a mess as it is.” With purposeful efficiency, Olga continued stripping the modest jumpers, skirts, and light dresses of her late mother-in-law from their hangers. Mrs. Valerie Harris had always hung her clothes neatly, maintaining their good condition—a habit she’d instilled in her son, too. But Olga’s wardrobes were chaos; every morning, she’d dive among the shelves searching for a top, complain there was nothing to wear, and then attack crumpled shirts with her steamer—the clothes always looking as though a cow had chewed and spat them out. It had only been three weeks since Mark laid his mum to rest. Valerie had required medical care—though it was already a lost cause—and peace. Stage four cancer took her frightfully fast. Mark brought his mother home; she faded within a month. Returning from work that day, he found her belongings tossed carelessly in the hallway, as if they were useless rubbish. Stunned, he wondered—was that it? Was this how his mum would be treated? Thrown out—forgotten without a second thought? “Why are you staring at me like Thatcher at the miners?” Olga retorted, stepping back. “Don’t touch those things,” Mark hissed through clenched teeth. The blood pounded in his head so fiercely, he momentarily lost feeling in his hands and feet. “Oh, for goodness’ sake—what do we need this tat for?” Olga snapped, her temper rising. “What is this, a shrine? Your mum’s gone—face it! Maybe if you’d cared that much when she was alive—visited a bit more—you’d have known how ill she was!” Mark recoiled at those words as if whipped. “Leave, before I do something I’ll regret,” he forced out over the tension in his throat. “Whatever. Loony.” Olga scoffed. In Olga’s mind, anyone who dared to disagree with her was automatically mad. Mark, still in his shoes, went to the hallway cupboard, opened the top doors, and climbing on a stool, fetched one of their checkered moving bags—of which they had about seven. He packed all Valerie’s things, not haphazardly, but folded each item into tidy rectangles. Her coat went on top, and her shoes in a separate bag. Their three-year-old son bustled around helping, even tossing his toy tractor into the bag. Mark rummaged for a key in the hall drawer and dropped it in his pocket. “Daddy, where are you going?” Mark managed a bitter smile as he grasped the door handle. “I’ll be back soon, champ. Go to your mum.” “Wait!” Olga called, appearing in the lounge doorway, “Are you leaving? Where? What about dinner?” “Thanks, I’m full up with your attitude towards my mum.” “Oh come on, there’s no need for this drama. Take your coat off—where do you think you’re off to at this hour?” Without looking back, Mark left with the bag, got in his car, and drove towards the ring road. He kept his mind blank, let the motorway drone drown his thoughts—work, summer holiday plans, those funny Facebook pages he browsed to relax—all shrank to insignificance. Only one slow, heavy thought crawled through his mind: the real priorities. Everything else burned away. The only things remaining untarnished were the kids, his wife… and his mum. He blamed himself—hadn’t seen enough, never home in time, always some excuse. His mum hadn’t wanted to be a burden, so he’d postponed visits, rang less, cut their chats short. After driving for some hours, Mark pulled up along a country lane by the family home where he’d grown up. Artist: Shaun Ferguson It was pitch black. He fumbled with the garden gate, used his phone screen to light the way—five missed calls from Olga. No, not tonight. The night air was heavy and sweet with the dying scent of cherry blossom, luring moths in the dark. Old slippers stood by the porch, and, by the inner door, Valerie’s worn blue house shoes with two red bunnies on the toes—he’d given them to her years ago. The air inside smelt faintly damp, the sort of musty old furniture scent you never forget. In the lounge, the new sofa and telly he’d bought her stuck out, the fridge door ajar reminded him nobody lived here anymore. Her bedroom—his old one as a boy—was just across. He sat on the bed. The wardrobe there was once his brother’s. Now, the rail held his mum’s things. Mark stared at it as if expecting his mother to appear. He dropped his head in hands, crumpling onto the pillows—and he wept. He wept for the words he never said, for the last time her hand squeezed his, for all the “thank yous” he never voiced—for love, for sacrifices, for making him feel safe and secure. For the strength she gave him. And now, at the moment for words, he’d found none. All he thought of seemed pompous and outdated; nothing would do. Today, people had a vocabulary for cynicism and bravado, not for real feelings. Mark crashed out on the bed, not undressing, not wanting to disturb her orderly world. Miraculously, he slept soundly and woke with the dawn, just as he always had. He put everything back in her wardrobe, folding things neatly the way she liked, hung up her dresses, arranged her shoes. He stepped back, pictured her in this room, in these outfits, that warm, loving smile. He hugged her blouses, breathed in their scent, and stood there, lost in memory. Only later did he fish out his phone. “Morning, Steve. Can’t come in today—family emergency. Will you manage? Thanks.” And to Olga he texted: “Sorry I snapped. Will be home tonight. Love you.” Outside, daffodils and tulips flowered along the garden path. Mark picked them, plus a bunch of lilies of the valley, and made three small posies—for the cemetery, for his brother, dad, and mum. He grabbed breakfast at the village shop. “Mark! Back again?” the shopkeeper called. “Just visiting mum,” he mumbled. “Want some fresh Lancashire cheese? Your mum’s favourite.” He wavered, then nodded, “Alright, thanks, Mrs. Harris. How’s your lot?” She waved him off—her son was still a dead loss, always drinking. Mark ate at the gravesides—flowers and chocolate laid for each loved one. His brother had died young, his father five years ago, and now his mum. He broke off some cheese and chocolate for each stone, smiling to their photos. Recalling mischief with his brother, fishing at dawn with his dad, and his mum calling him in for tea—her voice unmistakable for miles. Oh, to hear it again. Standing by Valerie’s grave, its earth still fresh, he whispered: “Sorry, Mum. I should’ve done more. Life was meant to go on—but without you, it feels so empty. I wish I’d told you just how great you both were, and how lucky I am to be your son. Thank you for everything. I wish I’d been better—forgive me.” Soon it was time to go. Heading home, Mark ran into his old mate on the lane, already half-cut. “Oh, Mark! You back again?” the lad slurred. “Yeah. Family visit. You still drinking?” “Course I am—it’s World Turtle Day!” he exclaimed, waving a calendar scrap. Mark smirked, “Take care of your mum, mate. She’s gold—and she won’t be around forever.” He left his friend standing there, speechless, calling after him, “Alright, Mark. Take care, pal.” “Goodbye,” Mark replied, not looking back.