My husband and I had laboured ceaselessly ever since the very beginning of our lives together. We always wanted the best for our children, to ensure that nothing would be wanting. That is why, after the birth of our daughter, my husband took up two jobs just to keep us afloat. We tried to raise our daughter to be polite and thoughtful. Time ticked by. Before we quite realised it, our little girl had become a young woman.
She grew into a striking beauty. Suitors seemed to gather like moths around a lamp. Later, I began to notice our daughter moving about with a curious care. Eventually, the reason unveiled itself: she had fallen in love. We were delighted when she told us. Indeed, we even urged our daughter to introduce her new beau. Who, we wondered, could be so fortunate as to earn her affection? She promised we would soon meet him.
Now, she told us she intended to bring her chosen one round to our home. That day, I whirled about the kitchen, magicking up a spread that seemed endless. My husband set about cleaning every nook and cranny of our London flat. We put so much care into every little thing and awaited the evening with anticipation. Our daughter seemed so happy. She was alight with joy, floating rather than walking from room to room. Her happiness was almost contagious to see her like that filled our hearts with unspoken relief and delight.
He arrived, and I was struck by a favourable impression. He was polite, witty, warm quick to laughter and easy to talk to. We invited them both to the table. Yet, throughout the evening, a peculiar sensation tugged at my mind: I was certain Id seen his face somewhere before. Despite the merriment, I could not place it. We joked and chatted, wholly at ease. The young man was at his very best, and we all relaxed in his company.
But when he took his leave, recognition crystallised abruptly in my mind. Id seen his photograph in a notice he and another man wanted in connection with some dodgy goings-on. It was a warning, urging people to contact the authorities if spotted. I told my husband and daughter immediately. At once, our daughter began to cry, certain Id conjured up the tale out of some ill intent.
That wasnt it. All I wished for was her safety to warn her of any pitfalls. We only cared about the man she would share her life with. In return, she packed her belongings and walked out the door, her silhouette vanishing down the shadowy street.
An entire month has passed, empty and echoing. Our phone grows cold with silence, unanswered. Relentless regrets gnaw at my thoughts day and night. Perhaps I was mistaken, and her chosen man truly is an ordinary gentleman after all.
