So, picture this: Sarah grew up in the English countryside, a pretty ordinary girl really, not known for any particular talents. Her mum never set the bar high when it came to her future, often saying things like, After school, youll probably end up working at the local dairy or in the village shop. There isnt much else going for you round here.
But Sarah wasnt one to just go along with what was expected. After finishing her GCSEs at sixteen, she found out she was pregnant by a lad in the year above her. The families ended up having a proper sit-down together and decided their grandson would stay with his paternal gran. Sarah wasnt ready for motherhood, and her own mum couldnt afford to take on that responsibility either. Not long after her son was born, Sarahs whole world shiftedshe left the village behind and got into an art college in Manchester. It turned out, she really did have an eye for painting and a huge drive to make something of herself.
City life totally suited her. She started making a decent living with her artwork, went dancing on weekends, caught the latest films, and would go shopping with her matesall those things you miss out on living in a little village where youre mostly stuck tending the garden, fetching water, or keeping the fireplace going. There was no way she wanted to move back home, not when she was actually standing on her own two feet for the first time.
But then, in her final year at uni, Sarah found herself expecting again. She seriously thought about ending the pregnancy, but in the end, she became a mum for the second time. Her fiancé sorted out a room for them in his parents house, but juggling a baby with her studies was nearly impossible. In the end, she sent her little boy off to stay with her mum in the village for a while. After her mum passed away, Sarah had no other choice but to bring her son back to Manchester with her.
Years went by, and Sarahs health started to decline quite quickly. Thats when she began reaching out to her eldest son, who was all grown up now and living in Liverpool. She started leaning on him for help with bills, medication, and food, piling on the guilt and playing on his sense of obligation. Unable to cope with the emotional blackmail, her eldest ended up inviting her to Liverpool so he could look after her more easily.
Sarah was all ready to go, but just as she was making plans, the father of her second son asked her to leave the lad with him, promising hed raise him well. Sarah was scepticalshe wasnt even sure he could handle being a dadbut in the end, she agreed to let her son stay, hoping it would all work out.
