Lina Was a Bad Woman—So Bad, It Was Almost Sad. Everyone Tried to Tell Her So: That She Was Bad, That She Was Lonely and Unhappy. No Husband, an Adult Son Who Lives Apart, and No One Needs Her. On Mondays, While the Other Women Brag About Their Busy Weekends—Doing Laundry, Cleaning, Toiling at the Allotment, Making Jams—Lina Is Silent, With Nothing to Share. They Whisper About Why She Leaves Work Early (Clearly Off to Meet Her Many Lovers—After All, She’s So Bad). Lina’s Mum Scolds Her for Not Finding a New Man or Having a Second Child; What’s Wrong With Her Life? But Lina Laughs: She’s Had Gold Chains, Loveless Marriages and Lazy Husbands; Now She’d Rather Have Oleg—One Night a Week, No Demands, No Chores, No Drama. Everyone Judges Her, But She Doesn’t Care. She Fills Her Weekends With Museums, Takeaway Pizza, and Quietly Content Independence—While the “Good” Women Run Themselves Ragged for Their Families. And Though Everyone Thinks Lina Is “Bad”, She Dances Through Mondays Smiling at Her Own Secret—Perfectly Happy Just the Way She Is.

Author Walton MerrittReading 11 minViews 1

Emma is a terrible person. Truly awful, you almost have to pity her for just how bad she is. Everyone tries to warn her about it, toohow dreadful Emmas become. Bad, and definitely unhappy. No wonder; theres no husband, her sons grown and living his own life. Emmas all alone, with no one needing her.

Its Monday and she walks into the office. All the women are swapping stories, boasting about how they spent the weekend scrubbing, washing, and getting the house in order. One was slaving away at her allotment, another spent both days making jam. Emma says nothingwhat would she say, anyway? Shes got nothing to boast about: no husband, her childs grown, so she keeps her head down and folds into herself.

Today she leaves a bit early, just as she usually does a couple times a month. The others watch with disapproval, shaking their heads; everyone knows where shes off tooff to see one of her many lovers, thats what they think. Theyre certain Emma is sleeping her way through lifea proper disgrace.

They, on the other hand, are upright married women, far too busy to do anything remotely scandalous. But EmmaEmma is bad.

Emma, her mother says, shaking her head, why cant you sort yourself out?

What do you mean, Mum?

Just your life, love. Cant you find yourself a nice man? Honest to God, Emma, you could still have another childits not too late, loads of people have babies into their forties nowadays.

Mum, what would I want with a random man? And what fora second child with someone like that? See, Mum, Ive got Jack, and thats more than enough And as for a manas you put itwhat would I really do with him? Ive already got Nick.

Emma! her mum gasps, scandalised. Nick isnt your man!

What do you mean hes not? Of course he is!

Emma laughs. Nick takes me out once a week, buys me presents, whisks me off on holidays, never gets on my nerves, doesnt send me round to clean his mums windows, doesnt expect his pants and socks washed, doesnt demand dinner, doesnt offload his problems, and doesnt turn into a permanent fixture on my sofa.

Its blissful.

Yeah, well, all that bliss is left to his poor wife.

And would you want all that on my plate, instead? No, thank you. Im forty-something, Ive been married twiceTWICE, may I remind you and I bolted from that kind of happiness as fast as my slippers would carry me.

My first husband, Jacks father, remember? It was your idea that I should marry him the moment I turned eighteenhe was older, which of course meant he was more mature, sensible, loved and respected me, and he even had a proper job, right, Mum? I spent five years locked up; couldnt study, couldnt see friends, barely spent any time with Jacktoo young, youll cock it up. My job was to slog away for him and his mother.

But hey, at least I was dripping in goldpractically buried in it.

And once a month hed parade me at family dos, show off his young, upstanding wifenot like those tarty dolls everyone else had. Not that he had a problem with those sorts himself, mind.

When I finally ran off and filed for divorce, thanks to Granny helping me, he tried to take everythingeven my knickers.

My second trip down the aisle was for loveI was studying and working at the time, remember? Studied all day to catch up on what Id missed, worked evenings so I wouldnt be a burden on you and Dad.

Emma! How can you say that? When have I ever begrudged you or Jack a bowl of soup? Never once!

Not you, Mum but, you know, theres Dad and then theres Tommy dear brother, who at the time had never lifted a finger to sort his life out. Why bother, when Mum does everything? You were juggling two jobs, dashing home to make sure your chicks were fed; one glued to the sofa and the other glued to a computer.

Cook, clean, wash upon you went. So when I married again, more for security than love, absolutely nothing changed. Just more housework. Before, I was Angelineangelic Emma, then suddenly I became Emma, expected to do everything.

My darling second husband would lie around, while I worked all day, then dashed to pick up Jackmy own child, after all! You cant expect a man to help, even if hed been his own sonits not a mans job, men get tired! Id do the shopping, drag the bags home, carry the kidnever owned a car, obviously. Why would I need one? My husband needs it, cant expect him to take the tram to work, can you? This is just how things are for womenso what if youre tired? Whos going to make dinner?

Put dinner on, wash up, put the little one to bed, iron his uniform Then its go and darn your husbands socks too, make sure he gets a cuddle, because God forbid, if he doesnt get enough affection, hell strayits your own fault.

No money, is there? Well, thats your problemyour kid, your expense. If it were his proper son, maybe hed help, but youll have to find some other mug to look after you and your brat.

“Sorry, you picked the wrong man this time…

“And now you say I can’t have money for my car repairs? What if the car’s mine? We’re a family, aren’t we?

“He’d always compare: how easy I had it because, in his head, I earned loads for doing nothing while he did so much.

Lucky you

What do you mean, youre leaving?

Oh, go on then, see wholl want youwith your child! Ha, ha, ha.

So there you have it, MumIve tried both ends: those who earn more, those who earn less. Didnt make a blind bit of difference. Everyones contentexcept me. I was miserable, Mum. Me.

All women live like this, love

Well, they can, but I wont.

Howd you spend your Saturday?

Oh, Tom and Laura dropped off their twoI had Anna and Josh for the day, took them to the park, made pancakes, just the usualdid a bit of dusting, vacuumed, mopped the floors, did the washing, got the kids to bed, fed your father, sat up ironing and finally crawled into bed after midnight.

The kids woke up early asking for more pancakes in the morning, so Grandma Emma obliged. Tom and Laura came for dinner, so I roasted a chicken, made salads, baked a pizza, saw every one off, tidied up, collapsed on the sofa and mustve nodded off before midnight. Your father woke me up later to shuffle me off to bed properly!

Mum, I dont remember you ever rushing to babysit Jack when he was young, either. Dont recall you ever being landed with him while I went off to relax with my eyes wide shut.

Well Emma, you were always so independent, but these twoyou wouldnt believe it.

Would you like to hear about last weekend, though? Friday night Jack rang and asked if I could take Bella for the weekend, so he and his girlfriend Sophie could head to the Peak District. Of course I said yeswhy wouldnt I?

Bella is Sophies cat, by the way, Mum. Maybe if you werent so busy with Tom and his lot, youd know what your eldest grandson was up to.

So anyway, Jack and Sophie dropped off the cat in the evening, brought me a pizza, and then dashed off. I treated myself to the pizza and caught up on my favourite showsno need to leap out of bed at the crack of dawn on Saturday.

Morning came, made some coffee, fed Bella, threw a wash on, wiped round a bit, and tried ringing youfancied taking you to a gallery or for a cuppa and a natter. Dad picked up, said you had your hands full, something about washing up, and called me a layaboutwhile your poor mother works herself to the bone, youre swanning about art galleries.

I was ready to take offence, but theres never any point, is there? Dads always right.

So I went round the gallery anywaythey’ve got an exhibition of your favourite artist, you know. Remember how you used to love her work?

Had coffee out, browsed the shops, remembered the cat, came homeBella was still snoozing. I just flopped on the sofa and watched telly.

On Sunday, Bella and I had a lie-in till eleven. Thought about calling you to come on the river ferry with me, but Laura answered and said you were elbow-deep in dishes or something, so I left you to it.

That evening, Nick asked me out to dinnerso I went! Why shouldnt I? Im a free woman, I dont dig into his marriage or ask about his wife, and he doesnt dump his problems on me either. I enjoyed myself and woke up fresh for work.

And yes, I have tried dating single men, Mum. What a nightmare. Its either overgrown boys looking for a replacement mum, or men bitter from their first, second, even third marriages, with kids all over the country. One even told me I was duty-bound to accept his kids because thats just natural for a woman. Hed pay his ex and see his kids, but wed have to live on my salaryhed use whats left of his for his fishing.

And the kicker? Hed treat me to fresh fish! Meanwhile, wasnt willing to help Jack. Jacks got a dad, he said. Let his own father look after him.

Fair enough, I suppose. So I told him to clear off. Jacks got a mum, too, after all.

Of course, that made me a right cowselfish, greedy, scheming, devious. Imagine, expecting a man to take care of someone elses childhow dare I try to live well?

So now, Mum, Ive got Nick. Im sure I look bad in everyones eyes, but honestly, Im not ashamed. Not one bit. But I do hurt for you, that this is the life youve got, which is why I drag you out, like todayI lied to you and Dad, pretended I needed help.

Mum, Im absolutely fine. Now come on, lets go do something for ourselves for oncesome proper time for you and me.

Are you mad, Emma? What about your Dad?

What about him? Hes not ill, is he?

No, but lunch

I dont believe for a second you havent already got it ready.

Well, someone has to warm it up, and anywayTom

Mum! I might take offence, seriously… I know Im the black sheep. Let me be good for once, lets go relax Im begging you.

Monday at work, all the women compete over how exhausted they are after their restful weekend. And Emma just smirks slyly, moving through the halls with a spring in her step, grinning about something nobody else would understand.

Of course, everyone knows what thoughts must be swirling in Emmas headbad ones, obviously.

Everything Happens for the Best Margaret Bennett was a strong-willed, successful mother determined to mould her daughter, Emily, in her own image. Margaret believed unwaveringly in her own path, insisting Emily follow her advice in all things, no exceptions. “Emily,” Margaret would declare sternly, “if you want to achieve as much as I have, you must stick to the path I set for you. Not a single step off it—is that clear?” “Yes, Mum,” Emily always replied. Emily loved her mother and wanted to please her, so she obeyed. Margaret, meanwhile, dreamed of her daughter becoming a picture of perfection. But the older Emily grew, the harder that became. Children will be children—Emily spilled things, tore things, fell, and broke things. But she was always top of the class, knowing a single ‘C’ would be a disaster at home. “Emily, that’s disgraceful—a ‘C’! Don’t you respect your father and me? Fix it, and don’t bring shame to the family,” Margaret would admonish. “Okay, Mum… it was just one ‘C’…” “It doesn’t matter. You must always be the best.” Worried but dutiful, Emily always made up for mistakes, and finished school with straight A’s—there was simply no other option. Margaret beamed when her daughter easily got into university. “Well done, darling—I’m proud of you. Keep it up.” Margaret ran her own construction business—tough in a man’s world, but she was sharper than many businessmen. No doubt her daughter would join the family business after university. Emily longed to be free of her mother’s control, maybe even attend university in another city—but that wasn’t going to happen. “You’ll study here where I can keep an eye on you,” Margaret insisted. “There’s a perfectly good university in Brighton.” Of course, Emily didn’t argue. But on her third year at university, she met Tom—a charming, blue-eyed classmate in a different group. He wasn’t as academic, and loathed coursework, so one day he asked her for help. “Emily, could you help me with my coursework? I’m swamped…” “Of course,” she agreed eagerly. She ended up writing Tom’s coursework, and he repaid her in affection, letting her love him. Their romance blossomed: dates, cinema, cafes. Margaret soon sensed something was up. “Are you in love, Emily?” “How did you know?” “It’s written all over your face. Bring him round—I want to know what kind of boy he is.” Emily brought Tom home; her parents welcomed him, and Margaret held back her criticism. But after he left, Margaret couldn’t help herself. “That boy is using you. He’s not very bright—what do you see in him?” “That’s not true, Mum,” Emily protested for the first time. “Tom is ambitious and well-read—just because he’s not like you doesn’t mean he’s not special.” “He’s not right for you,” Margaret insisted. “Sorry, Mum, but no matter what you say, I’m going to keep seeing him. I love him.” Margaret looked at her daughter, disgruntled. “You’ll see—one day you’ll realise he’s nothing special.” Emily stood her ground, and after graduation, married Tom. She was glad her mother was wrong about him. Life, as it happens, showed that even “average” students can excel. Tom quickly found a great job, while Emily remained working under her mother’s wing. Tom had his own flat—his parents’ gift—so Emily was delighted to have her own space. But Margaret made sure Emily continued working for her. One day Tom came home and shared, “Emily, I’ve been promoted to department head! Probationary for now, but I’ll prove myself.” He soon got the job permanently. Tom hated, though, that Emily with her shiny degree still worked for her mum. “You’ll never get anywhere working for your mother, Emily. It’s time to break free. Otherwise, you’ll always be under her thumb. She’s a tyrant, and you’re just letting it happen.” It hurt to hear, but Emily knew he was right. Eventually, Tom stopped reprimanding her, but became withdrawn. Emily didn’t mind—he was still there. Another year passed, then one day Tom quietly said, “I’ve met someone else. I love her. I’m leaving you. She’s everything you’re not…” For the first time, Emily snapped. She shouted, sobbed, smashed a plate, and even hurled Tom’s phone at the wall. Then she calmed down. Tom, watching silently, muttered, “So you do have a backbone—I wish I’d seen it sooner.” Then he left. “I hate you,” she whispered, gathered her things, rented a flat, and left. She told Margaret nothing, dreading her mother’s response. For over a month, she kept up the charade, but Margaret soon noticed something was wrong. “What’s the matter? You look lost. Is it Tom?” “No more Tom, Mum.” “I knew it—he’s left you. When did it happen?” “April.” “And you never said a word?” Emily sighed and endured her mother’s tirade about Tom and her own shortcomings. “At least you’re not his servant anymore. Lucky you don’t have a child. Next time, listen to my advice, alright?” “Mum, everything happens for the best,” Emily replied, and added, “And I’m done working for you. I’ve had enough,” before walking out, leaving Margaret stunned. Emily decided to put serious distance between herself and her mother, knowing she’d never escape Margaret’s “mentoring” otherwise. Walking aimlessly, she caught a tram, and on alighting, tripped into a pothole. “Just what I need,” she thought wryly as she sat down in pain. A passing young man hurried over, “Are you alright?” He helped her up; her ankle hurt. “Need a lift to the hospital?” he offered. “I’m Jack, by the way. And you?” “Emily.” At the hospital, they learned it was only a sprain—no fracture. Jack stayed the whole time, drove her home, and asked for her number, “In case you need anything.” She gave it. The next day, Jack called. “Need anything from the shops? How’s the ankle?” “Juice, some fruit… oh, and some bread, please.” Soon, the doorbell rang—Jack arrived with two big bags. “Why so much?” “Well, we’ve got to celebrate our meeting! If you don’t mind, I’ll sort the food, and shall we ditch the formalities…?” Emily burst out laughing, completely at ease. Jack prepared a nice meal, heated up some food, poured the juice (he didn’t drink alcohol), and they had a wonderful evening. Four months later, Emily married Jack. A year after that, baby Chloe was born. When people asked Emily where she found such a great husband, she laughed and said, “He picked me up off the street! Don’t believe me? Ask him!” Thank you for reading, subscribing, and for your support. Wishing you the very best in life.

01

Countdown to Launch Day On the third-floor office, she closed the folder of incoming documents and stamped the last application, careful not to smudge the ink. Neat piles lined her desk: “benefits,” “recalculations,” “complaints.” In the hallway, the queue was already forming, and by their voices she recognised the regulars she saw week after week. She liked this job for the simple results: paper turned into payments, certificates into free bus rides, signatures into the reassurance that no one had to choose between medicine and heating. She glanced at the clock. Forty minutes till lunch, but she still had to check last week’s register and reply to two county emails. Inside, there was a constant weariness—like a tightly knotted tension in her shoulders. She’d gotten used to it as background noise, keeping herself anchored in order. Order was her protection against falling apart. Stability in life came down to numbers. The mortgage on the small flat on the edge of town where she lived with her son after the divorce, monthly fees for his college, plus her mum’s medicines and part-time carer after her stroke. She never complained, just counted. Each month was a report: income, expenses, what could be set aside, what couldn’t. When the secretary called to a meeting, she grabbed her notepad and pen, switched off the monitor, and locked her office. The conference room was already occupied by her department head, two deputies, and the company solicitor. On the table: a jug of water, plastic cups. The boss spoke in a flat, emotionless tone, as if reading the news. “Colleagues, the quarterly review brought new directives for efficiency—starting the first of next month, we launch a new service model. Some roles will transfer to a central hub. Our branch on Alexandra Road is closing; benefits will now go through the Citizens’ Advice Centre and the council portal. Payment procedures are changing, and some categories will be reassessed.” She scribbled notes, but the words started to stick. “Branch on Alexandra Road closing”—that wasn’t just an address. It served those from the council estates and the nearby villages, the elderly for whom the town centre was two buses away. “Reassessment” always meant someone would lose out. The solicitor added, “This is confidential until the official announcement. No communication or leaks. Any breach will be considered a violation. You’ve signed the NDAs.” The boss paused on her, a moment longer than the rest. “There’ll be staff changes. Those who manage the pressure and show discipline will be considered for promotion. We look after our own.” The words landed on the table, heavy. Her throat felt dry. Promotion meant a pay rise—less fear about the bank and the pharmacy. But “closing” and “reassessment” echoed louder. After, she returned to her office and opened her internal emails. There it was: “Draft Order—Not for Circulation.” Attached: a table with dates, addresses, and descriptions. Scrolling down, she saw: “From the 1st, service ceases at…” and below, a list of vulnerable groups whose benefit terms were changing. One section read, “Without an online form, payments are suspended until documents are provided.” She knew “suspended” meant for many the money would vanish for a month, two—some people wouldn’t understand, wouldn’t manage to apply in time, wouldn’t even know what was required. She printed just one page—the launch date and general order—then filed it in “confidential.” The printer’s warm page left a ghost on the tray as she closed the lid, as if that could hide the implications. By lunch, the corridor’s queue grew thicker. She worked quickly but attentively, catching herself looking at each person as a potential future casualty. The pensioner whose hands shook as she handed over her son’s income certificate. The man in a hi-vis jacket requesting reimbursement for medical travel. The single mum, needing another recalculation after her ex stopped paying maintenance. She knew their faces and stories. In local government, people never disappear—they always come back with new paperwork or the same old worries. Now she was expected to keep silent as the system quietly changed the names on the doors. She stayed late that evening. The office was still, just the distant slam of security’s door below. She opened the table and pored over the details—not out of curiosity, but to see if there was any soft landing at all. Any chance for home visits, a transition period, some leaflets to prepare? She found only, “Public information: via website or posters at the advice centre.” That was it. No phone calls, no letters, no meetings with community reps. She shivered at the simplicity. Next day, she went to the boss. Not with complaints, just questions, as usual. “Can I clarify—at Alexandra Road, half our visitors don’t have smartphones or internet. Without electronic forms, they’ll miss out. Can we run face-to-face services in both places for a month, at least? Or do a drop-in at the village?” The boss rubbed his brow. “It’s not our choice. We’ve got targets to cut costs, raise digital rates. We can’t run two sites, and outreach means transport, travel costs, paperwork. There’s no budget.” “Then can we at least warn them in good time? We see them every day.” “We’ll do official comms when the order comes in, no sooner. You know what happens otherwise—panic, complaints, people phoning county hall. We still have to close the quarter.” She felt anger rising, but it wasn’t all at him. He was stuck in the same spreadsheets, just at a higher level. “If they lose their benefits, they’ll come back to us. Here.” “They will,” he replied placidly. “We’ll explain. We’ll have new instructions. You’re strong, you’ll cope.” She left his office feeling firmly put in her place. Colleagues were chatting about holidays and “more changes again.” She said nothing. Not because she agreed; she didn’t know how to say it without becoming the problem herself. At home, she reheated yesterday’s soup and set two bowls. Her son came in late, weary, headphones around his neck. “Practicals might be moved,” he said. “They might send us to a different site. If not, I’ll have to sort something myself.” She nodded, hiding how hard it hit her. He had it tough enough, studying and working, and sometimes he still looked at her as if she was meant to be the rock. After he went to his room, she rang her mum’s carer to confirm their schedule, then called her mum, who spoke slowly but tried to sound upbeat. “Don’t forget yourself,” her mum said. “You take it all on.” She started to say her usual “I’m fine,” but instead blurted out, “Mum, if your local chemist was shutting and you had to get prescriptions in town now, would you want to know in advance?” “Of course,” her mum replied. “I’d ask you to stock up, or I’d get the neighbour to help. Why?” She said nothing. It wasn’t about the chemist. That night, she couldn’t sleep. “Confidentiality” in their world, she realised, wasn’t about safety, but about keeping a lid on things—so people couldn’t organise, ask questions, or even staff wouldn’t doubt the numbers. On the third day, a village woman came in for disability care benefits. She held her folder as if it was the only thing keeping her upright. “They said I have to prove it again,” she whispered. “I brought everything. Please make sure it’s right. If it’s delayed…I don’t know how I’ll manage. My husband’s disabled, I don’t work.” She checked the paperwork, the launch date pounding in her mind. The woman would never use the online system—not from refusal, but from exhaustion and lack of skills. “Do you have a phone? Internet?” “Just a basic phone. The neighbours have internet, but I rarely have time.” She nodded, replying within the day’s rules. “Let me sort it all now, by the current process. And here—” she handed over a leaflet with the Citizens’ Advice address and schedule—“Come in straight away if you hear any changes, don’t wait.” The woman thanked her as you thank someone not just for help, but for recognising your humanity. As she left, the “come straight away” felt almost cruel. “Straight away” would be too late. The department group chat later pinged with a reminder from the solicitor: “Reminder: sharing draft orders is grounds for dismissal.” She saw the reactions added; someone typed “understood.” She stared at the screen as fear turned into a kind of resolve. By that evening, a list of addresses due for transfer and benefit categories with new rules lay in front of her. She knew she shouldn’t print it, but she printed one copy just to check the cases. It sat on her desk—too white, too obvious. She locked the door, sat with her hands on the edge of the desk. The 24–48 hour window was real. Two days left until the formal order, but the launch date wasn’t a secret any longer. If people found out now, they could still submit their forms, rally family to help with the portal, sort out paperwork. If not, they’d get to Alexandra Road to find the doors locked and a security guard telling them off. She weighed her options: warn her colleagues? It would spread fast and she’d take the blame. Tip off the neighbourhood chat? They’d trace the source. Phone vulnerable people? She didn’t have everyone’s number; that would be blatant. One path remained: anonymously send the information to someone discreet who could share it quietly. There was a veterans’ group in the area, some active neighbourhood chat admins, and a local paper reporter—she’d worked with her before. She photographed just the section with the date and address—no names or internal codes. Then, after finding the journalist’s contact, she typed and retyped the message, hands shaking not from drama but from knowing there was no going back: “Please check: from 1st, Alexandra Road closes, some benefits move to Council Advice Centre or online. People should file early. OK to publish anonymously. Document is a draft, but the date is set.” She cropped the photo to hide internal markings. Muted her phone, as if that could render her invisible. Sent, deleted the chat, deleted the photo from the gallery and trash. Each action mechanical—habitual, but this time serving not order, but self-preservation. She ripped up the paper into scraps, bagged it, and took it straight to the communal bins. Washed her hands, though there was no dirt. Next day, the news was already circulating in community chats: “They’re closing the branch,” with a photo of an announcement that didn’t exist yet. Tension rose in her office. Colleagues whispered; the boss stalked the halls; the solicitor demanded affidavits of “non-involvement.” She continued taking her appointments, all the while expecting to be called in. People did come—more crowded, more urgent, but determined. The man from down the street brought his mum, helped her register online, but insisted on filing a paper form, just in case. The single mum wanted a printed checklist “because the chat said they’ll stop accepting them soon.” A village woman phoned to ask if she could lodge her application early. “Yes,” she said, her voice wavering with relief. That evening, her boss summoned her. On the desk, a printed screenshot from the chat—the same phrases from the draft. “You know what this is?” he asked. She looked at the sheet, answered evenly, “I do.” “This was a leak. County Hall is asking questions. The solicitor wants an inquiry. You were at the meeting—you had access to the email. You’ve worked here the longest. I’m not looking to make an example of you,” he said, weariness not menace in his voice, “but I need to know if I can rely on you.” She felt herself clench inside. His “rely” meant “keep quiet.” She could blag ignorance, maybe get away with it, stay in a system built on little silences. “I didn’t share documents,” she said carefully. “But I do think people deserved fair warning. If they found out, maybe it was the right thing.” He was silent for a long time. “Fine. In that case—I won’t make a scene of this. But the promotion’s off. I’ll move you to the records section—no public work, no payments. Officially, it’s workload adjustment. Really, it’s so you’re not tempted. Agreed?” She heard neither kindness nor punishment—just the urge to save face for all. Records meant less contact, less meaning, but less risk. Lower pay, not much bonus. The mortgage wouldn’t disappear. “And if I refuse?” she asked. “Then a hearing, warnings, possible dismissal. You know how this works. I’d have to sign off on it.” She left with her transfer note, to be signed by end of day. Colleagues looked busy, but she felt their eyes. No one came near. In such places, people fear not management, but the risk of standing next to someone “dangerous.” That night, she sat at the kitchen table in silence. Her son came out, saw her face, and asked, “What’s happened?” She told him—briefly, just facts. He listened, then said, “You’ve always said the most important thing is not to be ashamed.” She smiled—too perfect for their kitchen, but still true. “As long as we can eat—and I can look people in the eye.” Next day she signed her transfer, hand trembling over the signature—but the line stayed straight. Records work smelled of paper and dust: shelves, boxes, files. She got her keys and a list of quiet, ghostly tasks. A week later, the official poster went up on Alexandra Road. People complained; that’s how it goes—but some had applied early. A former colleague, eyes averted, whispered, “Some made it. Those who got word early, or had grandkids help. Maybe it wasn’t for nothing.” She nodded, carrying her files. She wasn’t a hero, hadn’t saved everyone or overturned the system. Just took one small action, and paid for it. That evening, she visited her mum, delivered shopping and medicine. Her mum eyed her closely. “You look more worn out.” “Yes,” she replied. “But I know why.” She unpacked the bags, took off her coat, and washed her hands in warm water—the only thing right now fully under her control. Outside, the city rolled on—and the countdown to someone else’s launch date had already begun.

01

I Stopped Speaking to My Husband After His Birthday Antics—For the First Time, He Was Truly Scared – Right, let’s raise a glass to the birthday girl! Forty-five and still in her prime—well, in our case, maybe a dried fruit, but still good for your digestion! – Oleg’s voice boomed across the small restaurant’s banquet hall, overpowering even the background music. The guests at the long table froze. Someone gave a nervous laugh, trying to smooth over the awkwardness; others buried their gaze in their salads as if hunting for an olive was suddenly the most urgent task. Elena, sitting at the head of the table in her brand-new dark blue dress she’d carefully chosen over two weeks, felt the blood drain from her face. The smile she’d worn since the evening began twisted into a painful grimace. Oleg, utterly pleased with his joke, knocked back a shot of vodka, flopped down next to his wife, and flung his heavy, clammy arm around her shoulders. – Why the long faces? My Lena’s got a sense of humour—right, love? – he slapped her back like a mate at the pub. – She’s thrifty too. That dress—how old is it now, three years? Looks good as new! Which wasn’t true. The dress was brand new, bought with money Elena earned through freelance translation work. But to argue now, in front of friends, colleagues, and relatives, would have turned the evening into a circus. She gently removed her husband’s hand from her shoulder and took a sip of water. Deep inside, somewhere near her solar plexus, an icy lump began to form. Once upon a time she’d have made a joke—something like “Let’s just hope you don’t get mouldy, darling”—but tonight it was as if something inside her fuse box had finally blown. The party rolled on, out of habit. Oleg drank more, got rowdier, tried to invite Elena’s young colleagues to dance, and pontificated loudly about politics and how “it’s the women who broke this country.” Elena accepted gifts, thanked guests for their toasts, made sure everyone got their hot food, but she did it all on autopilot like a wind-up doll. In her head, there was nothing but silence. Absolute, ringing silence that drowned out her husband’s drunk rambling. When they got home, Oleg barely managed to tug his shoes off before heading to the bedroom. – Good night out, eh? – he grumbled, unfastening his shirt. – Only Sasha, your boss, he’s a shifty sort. Kept staring at me. Probably jealous he doesn’t have such a patient wife. Oi, Lena? Bring us some sparkling water, would you? Been drinking all night. Elena stood in the hallway and looked at her tired reflection in the mirror. Smudged mascara. Exhausted eyes. She quietly took off her heels, neatly placed them back on the rack, and went to the kitchen—but not for sparkling water. She poured herself a glass, drank it slowly while staring out at the dark street below, then went to the lounge, took out a spare duvet and pillow, and made up the sofa for the night. – Lena? Where’ve you gone? Bring me some water! – came his shout from the bedroom. Elena turned off the hallway light, crawled under the blanket on the sofa, and pulled it up over her head. Night came, but sleep didn’t. She didn’t think about revenge or starting a row. There was only one thing: a calm, crystal-clear certainty. That was the last time. The limit was reached. The balance was zero. Morning didn’t begin with the usual sound of the coffee grinder. Normally Elena got up half an hour before her husband—to make his breakfast, iron his shirt, and pack him a lunch for work. Today, Oleg woke only to his alarm and silence. No coffee, no frying eggs. He shuffled to the kitchen, scratching his belly. Elena was already at the table, fully dressed, reading her tablet. In front of her: an empty cup. – Where’s breakfast? – he yawned, opening the fridge. – I thought you were making pancakes, there was still cottage cheese left? Elena didn’t look up. She turned the page on the screen, sipped her cold tea, and kept reading. – Lena! I’m talking to you! – Oleg turned around, clutching a stick of salami. – Have you gone deaf after last night? She stood, quietly picked up her bag, checked for her keys, and headed to the door. – Hey! Where do you think you’re going? My blue shirt isn’t ironed! The front door slammed. Oleg was left standing in the kitchen in his pants, salami in hand, totally lost. – Fine then, be like that, – he muttered, slicing off a chunk. – PMS or she’s sulking over a joke. She’ll simmer down by evening—women love the drama. That evening, Elena didn’t come home until he was asleep. She slipped quietly in, made up the sofa again in the lounge. The same happened the next morning. No breakfast, no “Good morning,” no packed lunch. She just got herself together and left. By the third day, it was really getting to him. – Come on, stop playing the silent game! – Oleg barked, catching her lacing up her shoes. – I crossed the line, so what? We had a drink, unwound, that’s all. Who do you think you are—the Queen of England? Sorry, alright? Let’s move on. Where are my black socks, not a single pair in the drawer! Elena looked at him—calm, almost as if she was looking not at the husband she’d shared twenty years with, but at a patch of mould on the wallpaper. Unpleasant, but not the end of the world. She turned away, took her umbrella, and left. By week’s end, the flat started to look different. Oleg’s things, which used to magically appear clean and ironed, now amassed in heaps. No ready meals in the fridge; just eggs, milk, vegetables, but no homemade favourites. The dirty dishes he left in the sink piled up, growing hard crusts. Oleg tried to play hardball. “If she can stand the mess, she’ll give in and clean it.” But Elena calmly washed a plate and fork for herself, ate, washed them again, and put them away. His mountain of dishes grew. On Saturday he tried a new tactic—bought a cake and a bunch of chrysanthemums. – Come on, don’t sulk anymore, – he placed the cake on the kitchen table where she sat with her laptop. – Let’s have some tea. I know you’re still here. She raised dead eyes from the screen, calmly shut the laptop, stood, and left. A moment later, the bathroom door clicked, the shower went on. In a rage, Oleg dumped the flowers in the bin. – Well, fine! You think I can’t cope on my own? I lived on my own before you! Manipulator, that’s what you are! He loudly ordered pizza, opened a beer, and turned the football on at full blast. Elena walked past in her pyjamas with earplugs in, lay down on the sofa, and pulled the duvet over her head. A month passed. Oleg went through every stage—anger, trying to provoke a row, bribery, and then silent treatment of his own. But ignoring someone who acts as if you don’t exist turned out to be surprisingly hard—it was like playing tennis against a brick wall. The ball just kept bouncing back. He realised his life was falling apart in the everyday sense. He had to iron his own shirts, and they ended up crumpled. Takeaway food was costing him a fortune and his stomach. The flat grew dusty, as Elena only cleaned her own areas and he refused to touch a duster. But then, on Tuesday night, came the real shock. Early home from work after his boss had a go at him, he tried to pay his car loan—his pride and joy, still almost new. The banking app flashed: “Insufficient Funds.” Oleg blinked. How? His salary went in yesterday. He checked the history and went cold. He usually sent his half to the joint account, from which food, bills, and the car loan were paid, and spent the rest himself. Elena always topped off the account to cover everything. Now, only his own transfer sat there. Not a penny more. And this month, after forking out for a bumper repair and some nights at the pub, the payment wasn’t enough. He stormed into the living room, waving his phone. – What’s this meant to be?! Why hasn’t the money gone through? The payment’s tomorrow! She slowly put her book down. – Where’s your money, Lena? Why haven’t you paid in? The bank will slap a penalty! Elena sighed, pulled out a paper from her folder, and silently handed it to him. It was a divorce application. Oleg stared at the page—“joint household no longer maintained… marital relationship ended…” – You’re joking, right? – his voice cracked, shrill. – Over a joke? Over a bloody toast? Lena, are you insane? You’d throw away twenty years over nothing? She wrote quickly in her notebook and turned it to him: *It’s not about the joke. It’s about your lack of respect. For a long time. The flat’s mine, inherited from my nan. The car’s in your name, bought in the marriage, but you pay the loan. I’m filing for division of assets. You can keep the car, but will owe me half of what’s been paid. I’m moving to Mum’s cottage for the proceedings. You’ve got one week to find somewhere to live.* Oleg read it and felt the ground drop away. The flat—of course. He’d always thought of it as theirs, but the deeds were hers, inherited before the wedding. – What do you mean, cottage? Where am I going to go? My salary… there’s the loan, and child support for Vicky from my first marriage—how will I manage rent too? Elena looked at him—not triumphant, just tired. She wrote again: *You’re a grown man. You’ll cope. You said at the party I’m “past it.” So go find yourself a young, lively one. I want peace.* – But it was a joke! – he wailed. – Just a joke! Everyone jokes like that! Lena, forgive me, please! I’ll do anything, I’ll go to therapy, I’ll stop drinking. I’ll get help, I promise tomorrow! She didn’t turn around. The suitcase snapped shut with a click like a gunshot. – Where are you going at this hour? – he blocked the door. – At least stay till morning. We’re family. Let’s talk this over sensibly. For the first time in a month, he saw some emotion in her eyes—compassion. A humiliating, calm pity, the kind given to a wounded pigeon that can’t be saved. She wrote on her phone, then showed him: *Family don’t degrade each other in public. Or trample on the people who look after them. I put up with your rudeness for ten years and thought it was just your way. But it’s not. It’s just laziness. Anyone would think I’d never leave, but you were wrong. Please move.* She firmly eased him aside and rolled her suitcase to the front door. – I’m keeping the car! And the money! – he yelled after her, trying to wound, to protect himself. Elena paused, pulled on her coat, looked straight at him, and, for the first time in a month, spoke out loud in her slightly husky voice that made Oleg’s skin crawl: – You’ll pay, Oleg. By court order. And for the legal fees too. My lawyer’s good—expensive, too. I used the work bonus you wanted for fishing gear to pay him. Drop the keys in the letterbox when you move out. You’ve got till Sunday. The door shut behind her. The lock clicked. Oleg was left standing in the dark hallway. The silence wasn’t just oppressive now—it was overwhelming. He could hear the fridge humming. The tap, which he’d promised to fix six months ago, was dripping. He sat in Elena’s usual seat at the kitchen table. On it still lay the divorce form, with seal, signature, date—all real. His phone pinged—a bank alert: “Reminder: car payment due tomorrow.” Oleg buried his face in his hands and, for the first time in his fifty years, wept. Not for love lost, but for pity at himself, and for the total, irreversible disaster he’d brought on by running his mouth. The next three days passed in a daze. Elena had blocked his number. Her mother answered him only once: “Made your bed, now lie in it, son. Leave Lena alone—her blood pressure can’t take it.” By Thursday, Oleg started packing. He discovered he owned very little—just clothes, a few fishing rods, a toolbox, a laptop. Anything that made the flat warm or homely—curtains, vases, artwork, cushions—Elena had bought and picked out. Without her, the place was just a lifeless concrete box. Rummaging for socks, he found an old photo album: them on a seaside holiday ten years ago. Elena was laughing, hugging him; he looked proud and content. Back when she looked at him adoringly. When had it changed? When had he stopped seeing her as a woman, and started seeing her as, simply, “fetch this, do that, be quiet”? – Idiot, – he said out loud. – What a stupid old fool. On Sunday, he left with the last bag. As instructed, he dropped the keys in the letterbox. Looking up at their—her—flat, he saw only darkness in the windows. He climbed into his car, almost out of petrol, bank account nearly empty. With nowhere to go except his mother’s. He pictured her tiny, smoky kitchen and the nagging that would meet him at the door: “I told you she wasn’t right for you…” He smashed his fist against the steering wheel. The pain sobered him a little. He scrolled through his contacts—no one to call who might actually listen, without judgement or gloating. He pulled away from the curb. Ahead—an empty, lonely life. He’d have to learn to cook, iron his shirts, and maybe even mind his tongue. But that wasn’t the worst part. The true horror was knowing he’d destroyed the only place in the world he was ever loved—for nothing. Meanwhile, Elena was sitting on her mother’s cottage porch, mug of mint tea in hand, swaddled in a blanket. Her heart felt empty, yes, but peaceful. She’d switched off her phone. Uncertainty awaited, court battles, dividing assets, but one thing was clear: she would cope. The hardest thing—living with someone who made her feel alone—was finally behind her. Somewhere in the garden, a robin sang, and the air smelt of lilacs and freedom. For the first time in years, that smell wasn’t drowned by her husband’s boozy breath. She breathed deep and, for the first time in a month, smiled for real. If this story moved you and you understand the heroine, please like and subscribe to the blog. Let me know in the comments what you would have done in Elena’s place.

03

The Secret of the Old Postcard Three days before an age-yellowed envelope arrived in her life, Natalie Sutherland stood on the balcony of her London studio flat. The night was thick, black, starless. Down below, the lights of Regent Street burned. Inside, behind the glass door, Mark was discussing deal details with someone on speakerphone. Natalie pressed her palm against the cold windowpane. She was exhausted—not from work (she handled that brilliantly), but from the very air she’d breathed these last few years. The predictable rhythm where even a marriage proposal had become a logical bullet point in a five-year plan. A lump of either longing or mute fury lodged in her throat. Natalie pulled out her phone, opened WhatsApp, and started a message to an old friend she hadn’t seen in ages. The friend had just given birth to her second child and now lived in a whirlwind of little ones and chaos. The message was short, urgent, nearly nonsensical from the outside: “You know, sometimes I think I’ve forgotten what real rain smells like. Not this city’s chemical fog, but proper rain that hits the earth and smells of dust and hope. I want some kind of miracle. Something simple, made of paper. Something I could hold in my hands.” She never meant to send it. It was a soul’s cry, hurled into the digital void—a small ritual for self-soothing. She deleted it before sending; her friend would have thought she was having a crisis or that she’d drunk too much. Within a minute, she was back in the lounge with Mark, who was finishing up his call. “Are you alright?” her fiancé asked, throwing her a quick glance. “You look tired.” “Yeah, I’m fine,” Natalie smiled. “Just getting some air. I just want… you know, something fresh.” “In December?” Mark chuckled. “Try the seaside in May—if this quarter ends well, we might get away then.” He turned back to his tablet. Natalie grabbed her phone from the coffee table. There was just one new alert: a client had confirmed a meeting. No miracles. With a sigh, she went to get ready for bed, mentally mapping tomorrow’s to-do list. *** Three days later, sifting through the post, her finger snared the corner of an unfamiliar envelope. It fluttered to the hardwood floor: thick, rough, the colour of old parchment. No stamps, just an ink stamp of a pine branch and an address. Inside was a New Year’s card—not some glossy print job, but warm, textured card stock, embossed, with gold flecks that fell onto her fingers. “May your boldest dreams come true this year…” read the handwriting, which made something skip under Natalie’s ribs. The handwriting was familiar. It was Sasha’s. The same boy from that little seaside village where she’d spent every summer with her nan. Her childhood sweetheart: the boy who’d built dens with her by the river, set off fireworks in August, and exchanged letters between terms. Then Nan had sold the cottage, she and Sasha went off to different universities, and they lost touch. The address on the envelope was hers—her current one. But the card was dated 1999. How was that possible? A postal glitch? Or had the universe heard her silent cry for a simple miracle, something you could actually hold? Natalie cancelled two calls and a meeting, told Mark she was checking a venue (he just nodded, nose buried in his tablet), and got in her Mini. Three hours’ drive to the seaside village. She had to find the sender. Google told her the place had a little print shop. *** Snowflake Printworks turned out nothing like she’d pictured—not a kitschy gift shop, but a quiet haven. The door opened with a low groan and let her into a large room where the air was thick, sweet—almost fruity. The scent of wood, metal, something spicy-bitter—old paint, maybe varnish. And unmistakably: fire from a wood stove. Its heat lapped at Natalie’s cold cheeks. The owner stood with his back to her, bent over a chunky antique press. The clink of tools was the only sound. He didn’t turn at the jingle of the door. Natalie coughed. He straightened, slowly, like unsticking each vertebra, and turned around. Stocky, check shirt sleeves rolled, regular-looking but very calm eyes. Not curious or eager—just watching, waiting. “Is this your card?” Natalie placed it on the counter. Alex took his time. He wiped his palms on his jeans—leaving blue streaks—picked it up and held it to the light like a coin. “One of ours,” he confirmed. “Pine stamp. ’99 batch. Where’d you get it?” “It came to my flat. In London. Probably a mix-up at the post office,” Natalie’s voice was clipped and businesslike, though she was crumbling inside. “I need to find the sender. I know this handwriting.” His gaze grew more direct. It skimmed her perfect haircut, her chic but out-of-place beige coat, her face where even perfect makeup couldn’t mask the cracks. “Why do you need the sender?” Alex asked. “Twenty-five years’ a long time. People are born, die, forget.” “I’m not dead,” she heard herself say with unexpected steel. “And I haven’t forgotten.” He watched her, long and thoughtful, as if reading not her words but the shadows behind them. Then he gestured to the kettle in the corner. “You’re freezing. Tea’ll sort you out. Even a Londoner’s brain.” He poured into chipped mugs while she sat in the thawing quiet. And so it began. *** Three days in the village felt like a homecoming for Natalie. From the city’s roar to the stillness of snow sliding off a roof. From screen glare to the warm glow of the stove. Alex asked no probing questions; he just invited her into his world—one with creaking floorboards and the scent of wood fire, jam, and old books. He showed her his father’s printing blocks—copper plates with reindeer and snowflakes—explained how to mix glitter so it sticks, how to emboss so it lasts. He was like his home: sturdy, a little worn, filled with quiet treasures. He shared how his dad, smitten at first sight with his mum, once sent her a postcard to an old address that got lost on the way. “Love into the void,” he mused by the fire. “Romantic—and hopeless.” “Do you believe in hopeless things?” asked Natalie. “He found her. They spent decades together. Where there’s love, anything’s possible. Otherwise—I only believe in what I can hold. This press. This house. My work. Everything else is smoke.” There was no bitterness in his voice—just a craftsman’s acceptance of his material. Natalie had always battled her material, bent it to her will. Here, the fight was useless; snow fell when it would, and Graf, Alex’s dog, slept wherever he liked. A strange kinship grew: two lonely souls, each finding in the other what they’d lacked—she, calm and authenticity; he, boldness and spark. Alex saw through the city gloss to the girl still afraid of the dark, longing for a little wonder. Natalie saw not a has-been, but a custodian: of time, skill, and peace. Her background anxiety ebbed away. When Mark rang, Natalie was at the window watching Alex split logs with practised rhythm. “Where are you?” Mark’s voice was cold, flat. “Pick up a tree, will you? Our fake one’s collapsed. Bit ironic, isn’t it?” Natalie looked at the real spruce in the corner, decked in old glass baubles. “Yeah,” she replied quietly. “Very.” And she hung up. *** The truth came on the third day, New Year’s Eve. Alex handed her an old yellowed sketch from his father’s album—the original card’s wording. “I found this,” he said, voice oddly dull. “It wasn’t your Sasha. It was Dad. Wrote it to Mum. Never reached her. Funny how history repeats.” The magic had vanished like spilled glitter—no mystical connection, only fate’s irony. Natalie’s escape into the past was nothing but a beautiful delusion. “I should go,” she whispered, eyes averted. “I have… everything. Wedding. Deals.” Alex nodded. He didn’t try to hold her. Just stood in his world of paper and memory—a man who could keep warmth in an envelope but powerless against the cold from beyond. “I get it. I’m not a magician. Just a printer. I make things you can touch, not castles in the air. Sometimes the past doesn’t send us ghosts, just a mirror. To show who we could have been.” He turned back to the press, giving her the space to leave. Natalie took her bag, keys, phone—the only link to the reality waiting for her: business, KPIs, a muted safe marriage to a man who valued only money. She reached for the door but her eyes caught the card on the counter—and a new one, just printed, with the same pine stamp but new words: “May you have the courage.” Then she understood: the miracle wasn’t in a card from the past. The miracle was this moment, this choice. She couldn’t choose his world and he couldn’t enter hers—but she wasn’t going back to Mark, either. Natalie stepped into the cold, star-filled night—without looking back. *** A year passed. Another December came. Natalie never returned to the events industry, ended things with Mark, and started a boutique agency specializing in soulful, intimate events with real, paper invitations—from a little workshop in the village by the sea. Life didn’t slow down, but it made sense. She learned to value silence. Snowflake Printworks now hosts creative weekends. Alex takes online orders—filters them himself, though. His cards are a little better known now, make a solid living, but the process is the same as ever. They don’t write every day—only for business. But the other day, Natalie got a card in the post. This one had a flying bird stamp. It just said: “Thank you for your courage.”

05

📌 Useful Social Services & Contacts in the U.S.

Stay informed and get help when you need it. Below are key national services with direct contacts that may support you or your loved ones:
🏥 Health & Mental Support

SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

What they do: Free and confidential help with substance use and mental health disorders.

Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – 24/7, anonymous support

Website: samhsa.gov

🧒 Support for Children & Families

WIC – Women, Infants, and Children Program

What they do: Nutritional and healthcare support for pregnant women, new mothers, and young children.

Federal Info Line: 1-800-522-5006

Find local WIC office: fns.usda.gov/wic

Lina Was a Bad Woman—So Bad, It Was Almost Sad. Everyone Tried to Tell Her So: That She Was Bad, That She Was Lonely and Unhappy. No Husband, an Adult Son Who Lives Apart, and No One Needs Her. On Mondays, While the Other Women Brag About Their Busy Weekends—Doing Laundry, Cleaning, Toiling at the Allotment, Making Jams—Lina Is Silent, With Nothing to Share. They Whisper About Why She Leaves Work Early (Clearly Off to Meet Her Many Lovers—After All, She’s So Bad). Lina’s Mum Scolds Her for Not Finding a New Man or Having a Second Child; What’s Wrong With Her Life? But Lina Laughs: She’s Had Gold Chains, Loveless Marriages and Lazy Husbands; Now She’d Rather Have Oleg—One Night a Week, No Demands, No Chores, No Drama. Everyone Judges Her, But She Doesn’t Care. She Fills Her Weekends With Museums, Takeaway Pizza, and Quietly Content Independence—While the “Good” Women Run Themselves Ragged for Their Families. And Though Everyone Thinks Lina Is “Bad”, She Dances Through Mondays Smiling at Her Own Secret—Perfectly Happy Just the Way She Is.