Emily Taylor

A Lingering Bad Feeling “It’s over—there won’t be a wedding!” exclaimed Marina. “Wait, what happened?” stammered Ilya, “Everything was fine!” “Fine?” Marina smirked. “Sure, fine. Except—” She paused, struggling to find a way to explain… and eventually blurted out the honest truth: “Your socks stink! I cannot breathe that for the rest of my life!” “You actually said that?” gasped Marina’s mother when she announced she was withdrawing the wedding application. “Unbelievable!” “Why not?” shrugged the now ex-bride, “It’s true. Don’t tell me you never noticed it.” “I noticed, of course,” her mum admitted, embarrassed. “But that’s humiliating. I thought you loved him. He’s a nice guy. The socks—well, you can sort that.” “How? Teach him to wash his feet? Change socks? Use deodorant? Mum, listen to yourself! I was supposed to get married—to hide behind a man, not adopt an oversized child!” “Then why go so far? Why even put in the application?” “That’s on you, Mum! ‘Ilya’s a good lad—a kind soul. I really like him,’ your words! And these: ‘You’re twenty-seven. Time to get married and give me some grandchildren.’ Suddenly quiet, eh?” “Well, Marina darling, I didn’t think you were still unsure. I thought you two were serious,” Mum replied. “And I’m glad I didn’t misjudge you—you’ve thought it through and made your decision. But this ‘socks smell’—that’s a bit much. Doesn’t sound like you.” “I did it on purpose, Mum. In his language—so there’s no going back…” *** At first, Ilya seemed funny and a little clumsy to Marina. Always in jeans and the same T-shirt, not showing off about Picasso but able to talk for hours about old films. His eyes sparkled. He was easy and calm. That calmness drew in Marina, tired of dramatic relationships and chasing ‘the one’. Two months of cinema and cafés later, Ilya shyly invited her: “Want to come over? I’ll make you dumplings. Handmade!” So homey and warm—Marina’s heart skipped. The ‘handmade’ bit sealed the deal. She agreed. *** Ilya’s place underwhelmed Marina. No dirt, but chaos, tasteless and neglected. Grey walls without wallpaper, an old battered sofa with a single worn bolster instead of cushions. Boxes, books and old magazines scattered everywhere. Trainers in the middle. The air was stale, with dust and damp. It felt like a halfway house no one really lived in. “So, what do you think of my castle?” Ilya spread his arms, beaming with pride—completely oblivious to anything odd. Marina forced a smile; she liked him and didn’t want a row. The kitchen was no better—table with a fine layer of dust, sink full of dirty plates and cups with black stains, battered saucepan on the hob. Marina’s eye caught the kettle. “Wonder what colour that used to be?” she thought. Her mood sunk. Distractedly Marina listened to Ilya telling stories, trying to make her laugh. When he offered her a bowl of dumplings, she refused on grounds of being on a diet. No way was she eating anything made in that kitchen. Back home, Marina analysed the visit. On the surface, the mess was minor—so what, he lives alone and isn’t house proud. Big deal? But behind it all, Marina saw something deeper and unsettling. How can anyone live like that? Not just laziness… Ilya saw nothing wrong with it. A lingering bad feeling remained… *** Then Ilya visited Marina, officially proposed, gave her a ring. They filed the paperwork. Parents started preparing for the wedding. It was nice being a bride—but every time Marina found herself alone, thinking of Ilya making dumplings and telling jokes, the image of that grimy kettle popped into her mind. She realised: it wasn’t just a kettle. It was evidence—of Ilya’s attitude to life, to his home, to himself, and probably to her. One day, Marina pictured their future morning together and was horrified. She’d get up, see half-drunk tea and crumbs. Say, “Darling, can you tidy up?” and he’d look stunned, just like in his flat, not understanding. He wouldn’t argue, wouldn’t shout—he’d just… not get it. Every day she’d have to explain, clean up, remind him. And her love would die, slowly and surely, from a thousand tiny cuts he barely noticed. And her mum’s delighted she’s marrying. *** Married… All the warmth Marina felt with Ilya slowly dissolved, replaced by a heavy, sticky tension. “Marina,” Ilya asked anxiously almost every day, “We’re okay, right? We love each other?” “Of course,” she replied, feeling something inside her break. Eventually Marina couldn’t cope—she poured out her worries to her friend. “So what?” her friend Katya didn’t get it. “Dust, a kettle… My husband could leave a tank in the kitchen and never notice. Men just don’t see that stuff!” “Exactly! They don’t see it,” Marina whispered. “He’ll never see it. But I will—forever! It’ll kill me, slowly but surely!” *** No, she didn’t blame him. He’d never lied—only lived in a different world, where dishes in the sink were normal. For Marina, it signalled total incomprehension and indifference. It wasn’t even about cleanliness. It was about seeing the world differently, a fault line waiting to become a chasm. Better to end it now, than fall to the abyss years later. She waited for the right moment… *** Marina and Ilya were invited to a party. They arrived, took off their shoes in the hall… Entered the room… An awful stench followed them. Marina didn’t realise the source right away. But then she did—and so did everyone else. Burning with embarrassment, she dashed back to the hallway, dressed, and left. Ilya chased after her, grabbed her hand. She turned and threw it at him, almost with hatred: “Enough! The wedding is off!” *** No wedding happened. Marina believes she did the right thing and has no regrets. As for Ilya… He still doesn’t get it. What was the problem? So his socks stank? He could have just taken them off…

A Dreadful Aftertaste Its over, there wont be a wedding! exclaimed Charlotte. Wait, whats happened?

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Let Sleeping Dogs Lie Taisha often reflects on her life now that she’s crossed the threshold of fifty. She can’t call her family life happy, and it’s all because of her husband, George. They married for love as young sweethearts, yet somewhere along the way George changed, and Taisha missed the moment. They lived in a cottage in a quiet English village, under the roof of George’s mother, Anne. Taisha worked hard to keep the peace, respecting Anne, who treated her with warmth. Taisha’s own mother lived in the next village with her younger son, bedridden by illness. “Anne, how do you get on with your daughter-in-law Taisha?” nosy villagers asked at the well, in the shop, or just walking down the lane. “I’ve nothing bad to say about Taisha; she’s respectful, keeps the house well, and helps me with everything,” Anne always replied. “Oh, we’ll believe that when we see it! When has a mother-in-law ever praised her daughter-in-law?” scoffed the women. “That’s your concern,” Anne said, walking on. Taisha bore a daughter, Violet, and everyone rejoiced. “Taisha, Violet looks like me,” Anne searched for her features in the baby, and Taisha just laughed, not caring whom her daughter resembled. When Violet turned three, Taisha had a son. Again, the happy bustle. George worked, Taisha was at home with the children, and Anne helped a great deal. They lived quietly, peacefully—even better than most. George wasn’t a drinker like other husbands. Some wives would search for their men behind the village pub, dragging them home drunken and cursing the whole world. When Taisha was expecting her third child, she found out George was having an affair. In a small village, nothing stays hidden; soon everyone was talking about George and Tanya, the widowed neighbour. The neighbour, Valerie, wasn’t above coming over. “Taisha, you’re carrying George’s third child and he’s running off with other women,” she said bluntly. “Valerie, surely not? I’ve noticed nothing,” the wife said, surprised. “Exactly, how could you notice—two children, pregnant with a third, the house and the farm. He’s living for himself. Everyone knows now, and Tanya doesn’t even bother hiding it.” Taisha was upset. Anne knew as well but kept quiet, not wanting Taisha to find out. She often scolded her wayward George. “Mum, you didn’t see anything, did you? Women gossip; that’s what they do,” he retorted. One day, Valerie rushed in: “Taisha, George just sneaked into Tanya’s yard, I saw him myself from the shop. Are you going to let him leave you alone with three children? Go give that shameless woman a piece of your mind. You’re pregnant—George wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you.” Taisha knew she didn’t have the courage for a fight with Tanya—Tanya’s reputation for defending herself was well-known. Still she went: “I’ll look George in the eye and get the truth. He’ll just deny it and call it gossip,” she told Anne, who tried to stop her. “It’s late autumn, Taisha. Be sensible,” Anne pleaded. It was getting dark. Taisha knocked on Tanya’s window, waiting, but Tanya addressed her through the closed door, refusing to let her in and telling her to go home. Taisha left, knowing her efforts were wasted. George came home after midnight, drunk, though he rarely drank. “Where were you? At Tanya’s, drinking together—I know! I came over and she wouldn’t open the door,” Taisha confronted him. “What are you imagining?” George protested. “I was drinking with Ben down the pub. Got carried away with the time.” Taisha didn’t believe him but said nothing. What could she do? As the saying goes, “innocent until proven otherwise.” She spent that sleepless night pondering: “Where would I go with two children and a third on the way? Mum’s ill, my brother’s family is crowded—how could I fit in their house?” Her own mother had always said, when she complained: “Grin and bear it, daughter. You married and have children—bear it. Do you think it was easy for me living with your father? He drank and chased us, remember how we used to hide with the neighbours? God sorted it in His own way and called him home. But I endured it. Your George doesn’t drink much and he keeps his hands to himself. Endurance has always been a woman’s lot.” Taisha didn’t always agree, but she understood there was nowhere to go. Even Anne soothed her: “Daughter, you’ve got children, almost three now. We’ll manage together with him.” The third, little Annie, was born weak and prone to illness—perhaps from Taisha’s stress during pregnancy. But in time, Annie grew stronger, thanks to Anne’s tender care. “Taisha, have you heard? Tanya took in Michael after his wife threw him out,” Valerie came saying—the village’s fastest news-bearer. “No matter, let her. At least my George won’t go there now,” thought Taisha to herself. But a month later, Valerie showed up again: “Michael’s gone back to his wife. Tanya’s on the hunt again. Keep your George close by, you know what she’s like.” Life with George settled for a while. Anne was pleased. But once a man’s restless, he won’t stay put. On her way back from the market, Anne met an old friend, Annie: “Anne, what’s wrong with your George? Taisha’s a gem, a good mum and wife. You praise her yourself—what more does he want?” “Aye, Annie, is George at it again?” “He is, running after Vera, the divorced one at the village café…” Anne told off her son privately. But secrets don’t stay secret for long. Taisha learned of George’s latest affections, again thanks to Valerie. Tears and pleas didn’t help—George continued his affairs but never left the family, enjoying the comfort of home while chasing other women for fun. Anne now scolded him openly, but a grown man seldom listens to a tired mother. He’d yell: “Mum, I work for the family, bring in money, and you two accuse me, listening to village gossip.” Years passed. The children grew up. Violet graduated college and settled with her husband nearby, the son finished university and married a local girl. Young Annie finished school and made plans for further study. George finally calmed down—nowadays it’s work and home, even lying on the couch more often as his health declined. He gave up drinking altogether. “Taisha, my heart’s been playing up again,” he would moan. “And my knees ache—maybe it’s my joints. Should I see the doctor?” Taisha no longer pitied him; she’d cried enough tears and endured too much disappointment. “He’s stayed home only because his health’s failed; let his former flings nurse him now,” she thought. Anne passed away and was buried next to her husband. George and Taisha’s home was quiet, but sometimes children and grandchildren visited. The two were happy then. George would complain to the kids about his health, even blaming Taisha for not looking after him. Violet brought medicines, fussing over her father, telling her mum: “Mum, don’t nag Dad—he’s poorly,” and it hurt Taisha that Violet took his side. “Daughter, he brought it on himself, lived too wild a youth, now wants sympathy. I’m not made of stone—I lost my own health worrying about him,” she tried to explain. The son comforted his father when visiting, talking mostly to him—as men do. The children never seemed to understand their mother, no matter how she explained that she tolerated George’s infidelity for their sake, never wanting to deprive them of a father. The pain and loneliness. But their answer remained: “Mum, don’t dredge up the past. Don’t make things hard for Dad,” Violet said, her brother agreeing. “It’s all behind us now, Mum,” her son said, patting her shoulder. Taisha felt a little hurt that the children sided with George, yet she understood. Life simply is as it is. Thank you for reading, subscribing, and for your support. Wishing you all the best in life!

Dont Dig Up the Past I often find myself reflecting on my life now that Ive crossed the threshold of fifty.

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The Awakening That Turned Life Upside Down Until the age of twenty-seven, Mike lived like a spring brook—loudly, recklessly, and without a care. He was the life and soul of the village, restless and full of mischief. He could gather his mates after a long day’s work to go fishing three miles away, returning at dawn only to immediately lend a hand fixing a neighbour’s shed. “Lord, that Mike is a wild one, always carefree,” the old folks would shake their heads. “He lives without a thought in his head—reckless, that’s the word,” his mother sighed. “What’s so special? He’s just living like the rest of us,” shrugged his mates who already had families, gardens, and homes of their own. But then he turned twenty-seven. It wasn’t like thunder from the sky, but quiet—like the first wilted leaf falling from an apple tree. One morning, he awoke at dawn to the sound of a rooster’s cry, not as a call to a day of fun, but as a reproach. An emptiness he’d never noticed before rang in his ears. He looked around: his parents’ house, sturdy but ageing, needing a man’s hands not just for an hour, but for life. His father, bent from years of care, talked more and more about haymaking and feed prices. Things changed for Mike at a distant relative’s country wedding. Mike, ever the entertainer, was joking and dancing. Then in the corner, he saw his father quietly chatting with a silver-haired neighbour. They watched his uninhibited cheerfulness without judgment, only weary sadness. At that moment, Mike saw himself with brutal clarity—not a boy, but a grown man dancing to someone else’s tune as life quietly slipped by. No purpose, no roots, nothing of his own. He felt uneasy. The next morning, he woke anew. The reckless ease had vanished, replaced by a calm heaviness, a sense of adulthood. He stopped flitting to every party, took over his late grandfather’s abandoned plot on the edge of the village near the woods, cut the grass, felled two dead trees. At first, the villagers teased him. “Mike’s building a house? He can’t even hammer in a nail straight!” But he learned, clumsily, often hitting his fingers instead of the nails. He obtained permission to chop wood, dug up stumps. The money he once squandered now saved for nails, tiles, and glass. He worked from dawn to dusk, silently, stubbornly. By evening, he slept with a new feeling—that the day hadn’t been wasted. Two years passed. On that plot stood a modest but solid cabin, smelling of pine and fresh wood. Nearby—a bathhouse, built by his own hands. In the garden, the first vegetable rows appeared. Mike lost weight, was tanned, and the carelessness in his eyes was replaced by steadiness. His father came to see his new house, offered help, but Mike refused. His father wandered around in silence, inspected corners, peered inside. Then he praised his son. “Solid work…” “Thanks, Dad,” Mike replied quietly. “Now you need a bride—a homemaker,” his father said. Mike smiled, gazing at his handiwork and the dark forest rising beyond. “I’ll find one, Dad. Everything in its own time.” He slung his axe over his shoulder and went to the woodpile. His movements were slow and sure. That careless, worry-free life was a memory, replaced by a life of concern and hard work. But for the first time in twenty-nine years, Mike felt truly at home—not just under his parents’ roof, but in a home of his own. That reckless, empty youth was gone. Then came the discovery, on a typical summer morning as Mike prepared to drive to the woods for firewood. He was starting his old Ford when she emerged from the neighbour’s gate—Julia. The very same Julia he remembered as a tomboy with two plaits, always scraped knees, who’d left for university to train as a teacher. Out of that gate walked not a girl, but a beautiful young woman. Sunlight played in her golden hair, tumbling over her shoulders. Her walk was upright and elegant, a simple dark dress hugged her figure, and her eyes—always laughing—now shone with new, warm depth. She was thoughtful, adjusting her shoulder bag, unaware at first of Mike’s stare. Mike was dumbfounded, forgetting the engine, forgetting the woods. His heart pounded stupidly. “When? God, when did you become so beautiful? Only yesterday you were a scruffy kid…” She caught his stunned gaze, stopped, and smiled—a smile not of a neighbour’s girl, but one both shy and tender. “Morning, Mike. Can’t start the car?” Her voice was velvet, with none of the girlish squeak when she called him a “tiddler.” “Julia… Jules…” was all he managed. “To school?” “Yep,” she nodded. “My lessons start soon, can’t be late.” She walked away, light on the dusty lane. And Mike watched her, while amid his calculations of logs and walls, a clear, blinding thought struck: “She’s the one. She’s who I should marry.” He had no idea that for Julia, this morning had been one of the happiest in years—because finally, that wild, oblivious Mike had seen her. Not through her, not as a piece of furniture, but truly saw her. “Is it possible? I’ve wished for this since I was thirteen. He always called me ‘kiddo’. I cried when he went off to the army. Older girls hung on him, and I was left out. I even returned to the village to work in the school—because of him.” Her quiet, secret affection for her older neighbour boy suddenly sparked hope. She walked on, barely suppressing a smile under his intense, bewildered gaze. Mike never made it to the woods that day. He wandered around his new cabin, chopped wood furiously, fixated on one thought: “How did I never notice? She’s always been nearby, growing up, while I chased other girls…” That evening at the village well, he saw Julia again. Returning home, tired, with the same bag. “Julia—Jules,” he called out, surprised by his own boldness. “How’s… the job? Are your pupils still cheeky and wild?” She stopped by the fence, her eyes weary but kind and lovely. “It’s work, you know. Kids are kids—noisy, but they make your heart glad. I love working with them, they’re inventive… And your new house is solid.” “Not finished yet,” he muttered. “Everything unfinished can be finished, you know,” she said softly, suddenly bashful about her own wisdom, and waved goodbye. “Alright, see you.” “Everything can be finished,” Mike repeated to himself, “and not just the house.” From then on, his life had a new goal. He was building not just any house—but a home for someone. He knew exactly who he wanted to bring there. He imagined living there with the woman he loved. Flower pots on the windowsill, not jars of nails. Sitting together on the porch, not alone. He didn’t rush, wary of spoiling his quiet dream. Mike “happened to” cross Julia’s path more often, first just nodding, then asking about her class. “How are your pupils?” He’d often see her outside, surrounded by noisy children calling, “Goodbye, Miss Julia…” One day he brought her a whole basket of wild forest nuts. Julia accepted his shy gestures warmly. She saw how he’d changed—from impulsive lad to steady, reliable man. And the feeling she’d long cherished blossomed strong. As autumn drew in, low heavy clouds gathered over the village. When Mike’s house was nearly finished, he couldn’t wait. He waited by Julia’s gate, clutching a bunch of bright red rowan berries. “Julia,” he said nervously, “the house is almost done. But… it feels so empty. Awfully empty. Would you come see it sometime? Actually—I want to ask for your hand in marriage. I’ve known for a long time how much you mean to me.” Mike looked at her with earnest, slightly scared eyes, and Julia saw everything she’d waited for. She gently took the rowan berries from his work-toughened hand, pressed them to her heart. “You know, Mike,” she whispered, “I’ve watched that house go up from the very first log. I always wondered what it would be like inside, waiting for you to invite me… I’ve dreamed of this. So yes, I’ll come…” For the first time in months of shyness and beauty, her eyes flashed with the same spirited spark he’d once missed—the spark that, it turned out, had only been waiting for its moment to truly shine. Thank you for reading, subscribing, and supporting. Wishing everyone luck and happiness!

The Realisation That Overwhelmed Me Up until he turned twenty-seven, Michael lived like a spring streamloud

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Hand Over the Key to Our Flat

Give me the key to our flat Weve come to a decision, your father and I, Margaret laid her hand gently

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The Black Widow Charming and intelligent Lilian met Vlad, a much older, well-known local songwriter, just before graduating from university with a degree in journalism. Vlad soon helped her land a job hosting her own show, “Heart-to-Heart Conversations,” which featured local experts and life stories. Lilian excelled on television, and her popularity grew. Eventually, she married Vlad, but his fondness for drink and lack of attention soured their marriage. Lilian pursued her career, while Vlad fell deeper into old habits. After Vlad’s sudden death from heart complications, Lilian was left wealthy and single. Her supportive but envious housekeeper Vera watched with anticipation as Lilian began rebuilding her life. Soon she met Kenneth—a big, awkward but kind businessman—at a nearby café. They fell for each other, married quietly, and honeymooned in the Maldives, where Kenneth spoiled Lilian as she’d never been before. Yet happiness remained elusive. Lilian craved passion beyond Kenneth’s gentle devotion and began an affair with the rugged and intense Andrew—a friend of a colleague. Their romance ended in tragedy when Kenneth discovered them, promptly suffering a fatal heart attack. Vera, sensing betrayal, remained a constant in Lilian’s life as she was evicted by Kenneth’s adult daughter, taking only a cash settlement and returning to her own apartment. Still grieving, Lilian’s lover Andrew was killed in a car accident. Overwhelmed by loss, she pondered whether she was cursed—“a black widow”—as friends joked darkly about her string of dead partners. Just as Lilian began to trust in happiness again, she met Mark, a young, brilliant man who captured her heart. Lilian was stunned to learn Mark was one of Britain’s wealthiest men. When he too landed in hospital with heart trouble, Lilian feared her “black widow” fate would strike again. But Mark recovered, proposed, and promised her a lifetime of true happiness and love, helping Lilian finally believe in a brighter future.

Black Widow It all began with Alice clever, charming, and in her final year of journalism at Oxford.

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The Day I Lost My Husband Wasn’t Just the Day I Lost Him—It Was the Day I Lost the Marriage I Believed In. It All Happened So Quickly: From His Early Morning Route as a Rural Vet Across English Villages to the Rain-Soaked Accident That Changed Everything, and Then, Amid Grief, the Heartbreak of Discovering the Double Life He Led Through Public Tributes From Other Women. Five Years On, I’m Rebuilding from Betrayal and Loss—Learning to Forgive, Live, and Love Again, Piece by Piece.

The day I lost my husband was not simply the day he vanished from my life. It was the day I lost the

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When My Husband Gave Away Our Savings for His Son’s New Home: The True Cost of Responsibility, Divorce, and a Fresh Start

My son needs Fifty thousand pounds, Ben. Fifty. On top of the thirty thousand for child maintenance.

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I Know Best – What on earth is going on? – Dimitri wearily crouched before his daughter, inspecting the rosy patches on her cheeks. – Again… Four-year-old Sophie stood in the middle of the room, patient and oddly grown-up, already used to these check-ups, her parents’ worried faces, endless ointments and pills. Maria approached and sat beside her husband, gently tucking a strand of hair behind their daughter’s ear. – These medicines aren’t working. At all. May as well be giving her water. And the doctors at the clinic… they aren’t doctors, more like who knows what. This is the third new treatment, and it’s made no difference. Dimitri stood and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Outside, the world was grey—the day promised to be as dull as all the others before it. They hurriedly packed up—Sophie bundled in her warm coat—and half an hour later, they were seated in his mother’s flat. Olga fussed, shook her head, stroked her granddaughter’s back. – So little, and already on so many medicines. It’s such a strain on her body, – she perched Sophie on her knee, and the little girl nestled close—familiar comfort. – It’s heartbreaking. – We wish we didn’t have to give them, – Maria sat at the edge of the sofa, fingers intertwined. – But the allergy won’t go away. We’ve eliminated everything—absolutely everything. She only eats the most basic foods, and still, the rash persists. – And what do the doctors say? – Nothing concrete. They can’t pinpoint it. We do tests, take samples, and the result… – Maria waved a hand – this result, here, on her cheeks. Olga sighed and smoothed Sophie’s collar. – Hopefully she’ll outgrow it. Kids sometimes do. But for now, no comfort. Dimitri gazed at his daughter. Small and thin. Big, thoughtful eyes. He stroked her hair, and memories flickered—snatching pastries from the kitchen as a child, begging for sweets, eating his mum’s jam straight from the jar… But his daughter? Boiled veg. Boiled meat. Water. No fruit, no treats, no proper children’s food. Four years old, on a diet stricter than some ulcer patients. – We don’t know what else there is to cut, – he spoke quietly. – Her diet’s nearly nothing as it is. The drive home was silent. Sophie dozed in the backseat; Dimitri checked her in the mirror every so often. At least she wasn’t scratching. – Mum called, – Maria spoke up. – She wants Sophie next weekend. She’s got tickets for the puppet theatre, wants to take her. – Theatre? – Dimitri changed gear. – That’ll be nice. Good distraction. – I thought so too. She could use it. …On Saturday, Dimitri parked outside his mother-in-law’s and carried Sophie from the car seat. She blinked sleepily, rubbing her eyes—woken too early. He picked her up, and she snuggled into his neck, warm and weightless as a sparrow. Mrs Taylor appeared on the porch, arms thrown wide as if welcoming a shipwreck survivor. – Oh, my dear, my little ray of sunshine, – she scooped up Sophie, hugging her close to her vast chest. – So pale, so thin. Her cheeks are hollow. You lot have worn her out with your diets, you’re ruining her. Dimitri thrust his hands in his pockets, holding back irritation. It was always the same. – We’re doing it for her sake. There’s a reason, you know. – What sort of sake? – Mrs Taylor pursed her lips, inspecting Sophie as though—just returned from a prison camp. – Skin and bone. Some childhood—she should be growing, not starved. She carried Sophie inside, not looking back, leaving the door to click shut. Dimitri lingered at the gate, a sensation nagging at the edge of his mind, some half-formed hunch that vanished like mist. He rubbed his forehead, waited one more minute listening to the quiet of this foreign yard, then sighed and returned to the car. A weekend without their daughter—a strange, nearly-forgotten feeling. On Saturday, he and Maria trawled the supermarket aisles, piling up groceries for the week. At home, he spent three hours fixing the leaky bathroom tap. Maria emptied wardrobes and packed old things into bags for the tip. The usual chores, but the absence of Sophie’s voice made the flat feel wrong, too empty. In the evening, they ordered pizza—the mozzarella and basil kind, forbidden to Sophie. Opened a bottle of red, sat talking about nothing much—work, their postponed holiday plans, the never-ending renovations. – It’s nice, – Maria said, then paused, biting her lip. – I mean… you know. Just quiet. Peaceful. – I know, – Dimitri covered her hand with his. – I miss her too. But we needed the break. On Sunday, he went to pick up their daughter just before sunset. The garden glowed orange beneath old apple trees. Mrs Taylor’s place, in the evening light, seemed almost cosy. Dimitri stepped from the car, pushed open the gate—its hinges groaned—and stopped short. Sophie was sitting on the porch. Mrs Taylor beside her, radiating sheer happiness. In her hands was a pastry. Big, golden, shiny with butter. And Sophie was devouring it. Cheeks smeared, crumbs on her chin, eyes sparkling—happier than he’d seen in ages. For a moment, Dimitri simply stared. Then a surge of hot anger swept up from his chest. He strode forward, snatched the pastry away. – What’s this supposed to be?! Mrs Taylor jumped, shrank back, her face turning red from neck to hairline. She flailed her hands, desperate to wave away his fury. – It’s just a tiny piece! No harm done, honestly. Dimitri wasn’t listening. He scooped Sophie up—she went quiet, clutching his coat in fright—and headed for the car. Buckled her in, hands trembling with rage. Sophie gazed at him, lips quivering, about to cry. – It’s okay, darling, – he stroked her head, forcing his voice to sound calm. – Just wait here for Daddy, alright? He shut the door and marched back to the house. Mrs Taylor was rooted to the porch, fiddling with her dressing gown, blotchy and pale. – Dimi, you don’t understand… – I don’t understand?! – he stopped short, exploding. – Six months! Six months, and we couldn’t work out what was wrong with our daughter! Tests, allergy screenings—do you have any idea what it all cost us? The stress, sleepless nights?! Mrs Taylor edged back toward the door. – I was only trying to help… – Help?! – Dimitri advanced. – She’s been on boiled chicken and water! We’ve cut out every single possible allergen! And you—you secretly feed her fried pastries? – I was building up her immunity, – Mrs Taylor suddenly bristled, chin raised. – A little at a time, to get her body used to it. One bit more and it would’ve cleared up, thanks to me! I know what I’m doing—I’ve raised three kids! Dimitri looked at her, unrecognising. This woman he’d endured for years, for his wife, for peace—she was poisoning his child. On purpose. Convinced she knew better than any doctor. – Three kids, – he repeated quietly. Mrs Taylor paled. – Doesn’t mean they’re all the same. Sophie isn’t your daughter—she’s mine. And you won’t see her again. – What?! – Mrs Taylor clutched the rail. – You have no right! – I do. He walked to the car, shouts erupting behind him. But Dimitri didn’t look back. Started the engine. In the rear-view, his mother-in-law’s frantic silhouette flared behind the gate as he pulled away. At home, Maria met them in the hallway. One look—his face, their tearful daughter—and she understood. – What happened? Dimitri explained. Briefly, coldly, all emotion spent outside. Maria listened, face hardening. Then she picked up her phone. – Mum. Yes, he told me. How could you?! Dimitri got Sophie into the bath—to wash away the pastry and tears. In the next room, Maria’s voice—sharp, unfamiliar—rang out. She scolded her mother as he’d never heard before. Her words finished loud and clear: “Until we’ve sorted the allergy—no visits, Mum.” Two months passed… Sunday lunch at Olga’s was now a tradition. Today, a sponge cake with cream and strawberries sat on the table. And Sophie was eating it herself, big spoon, getting cream everywhere. Her cheeks—perfectly clear. – Would you believe it, – Olga shook her head. – Sunflower oil. Such a rare allergy. – Doctor said it happens to one in a thousand, – Maria spread butter on her bread. – The moment we cut it out and switched to olive oil—her rash vanished in two weeks. Dimitri couldn’t stop watching his daughter. Rosy cheeks, shining eyes, cream on her nose. A happy child, finally able to eat real food—cakes, biscuits, everything made without sunflower oil. Turns out, that’s a lot. Relations with his mother-in-law stayed chilly. Mrs Taylor called, apologised, cried down the phone. Maria kept her replies short and brisk. Dimitri didn’t speak to her at all. Sophie reached for more cake, and Olga moved the plate closer. – Go on, love. Eat as much as you like. Dimitri leaned back in his chair. Outside, rain fell; inside, warmth and the scent of baking. His daughter was better. Nothing else mattered.

I know better Honestly, what is going on, David muttered as he crouched down beside his daughter and

La vida

My Sister Megan Went on a Three-Day Business Trip—So I Looked After Her 5-Year-Old Daughter Lily, and Everything Seemed Fine Until Dinner: I Served Beef Stew, But She Just Stared, Then Whispered, “Am I Allowed to Eat Today?”—She Burst Into Tears, Revealing a Heartbreaking Family Secret. Now I’m Faced with an Impossible Choice: Confront My Sister, Report It, or Find Another Way to Protect Lily—What Would You Do?

My sister Emily had to dash off for a work trip, so I was in charge of my five-year-old niece Ruby for

La vida

— Whose little girl are you, love? ..— Come on, let me carry you home, you’ll warm up. I lifted her in my arms and brought her to my cottage. Before I knew it, the neighbours gathered round—news travels fast in an English village. — Good grief, Anna, where did you find her? — And what are you going to do with her? — Anna, have you lost your senses? What will you feed the child with? The floorboard creaked underfoot—reminding me yet again to fix it, though I never got round to it. I sat at my kitchen table and took out my old diary. The pages had yellowed like autumn leaves, but the ink still held my thoughts. Outside, the wind howled, and the birch tapped the window, as if asking to come in. — What’s all the commotion, then? — I said to it. — Patience, spring will come soon enough. It’s funny to talk to trees, but when you live alone, the world around you feels alive. After those awful times I was left a widow—my dear Stephen lost to war. I still keep his last letter, creased and faded from countless readings. He promised he’d return soon, said he loved me, that we’d be happy… But a week later, I learned the truth. We never had children, perhaps just as well—there was nothing to feed them with back then. The village head, Nicholas Evans, always comforted me: — Don’t fret, Anna. You’re still young, you’ll marry again. — I won’t. — I replied firmly. — I loved once, that is enough. I worked at the farm from dawn till dusk. Foreman Peter would shout: — Anna Evans, off home with you! It’s late as it is! — I’ll manage, — I’d say. — As long as my hands still work, my spirit stays young. My little home was modest—a stubborn goat called Maggie, five hens to do a better job of waking me than any rooster. My neighbour Claudia would often joke: — Are you sure you’re not a turkey? Why do your hens always start up before everyone else’s? I kept my garden—potatoes, carrots, beetroot. Everything from the land itself. In autumn I’d preserve pickles, tomatoes, marinated mushrooms. In winter, opening a jar felt like bringing summer into the house. I remember that day as if it were yesterday. March was wet and cold. The drizzle lasted all morning, and by evening it froze. I went to the woods for firewood—needed fuel for the stove. After the storms, there was plenty of deadfall, just waiting to be gathered. Arms loaded, I headed home past the old bridge, when I heard someone crying. At first I thought it was the wind playing tricks. But no—it was a child, sobbing. I scrambled down beneath the bridge, and there she was—a little girl, muddy and soaked, dress torn, eyes full of fear. When she saw me she fell silent, shivering like a leaf. — Whose little girl are you? — I asked quietly, so as not to scare her more. She didn’t answer, just blinked at me, lips blue and hands swollen red from cold. — Frozen stiff, — I muttered. — Let’s get you home and warm you up. I scooped her up—lighter than a feather—wrapped her in my old scarf, held her close. And all the while, I wondered what kind of mother leaves a child under a bridge. I couldn’t fathom it. The wood I’d gathered was abandoned—it didn’t matter now. All the way home, the girl stayed silent, clutching my neck with her icy fingers. I carried her inside, and the neighbours were there in a flash—news spreads like wildfire in our village. Claudia was the first to burst in: — Oh heavens, Anna, where did you find her? — Under the bridge, — I replied. — Clearly abandoned. — Dear God… — Claudia gasped. — What are you going to do? — What else? She’ll stay with me. — Anna, have you gone mad? — Old Maude croaked. — How will you provide for a child? — Whatever God gives, I’ll make do, — I said. First thing, I stoked the stove and set water to heat. The girl was covered in bruises, skin-and-bones, her ribs sticking out. I bathed her in warm water, dressed her in my old jumper—no children’s clothes in my house. — Are you hungry? — I asked. She nodded shyly. I gave her leftover vegetable stew and thick slices of bread. She ate hungrily, yet her manners showed she wasn’t a stray, but rather raised in a home. — What’s your name? She stayed silent. Either afraid or unable to speak. I put her in my bed to sleep, curling up myself on the bench. I woke several times through the night to check on her. She slept, curled tight, whimpering in her dreams. At first light, I went to the parish hall—to report my find. The head, John Stephens, just spread his hands: — No word of any missing child. Maybe someone from the city left her… — What do we do now? — By law, she belongs in an orphanage. I’ll ring the council today. My heart ached: — Wait, John. Give me time—perhaps her parents will turn up. Meanwhile, let her stay here. — Anna Evans, think carefully… — There’s nothing more to think about. It’s decided. I named her Mary—after my mother. I hoped her real parents might turn up, but no one ever did. Perhaps that’s for the best—I grew to love her with all my heart. It was hard at first—she never spoke, only her eyes searching my home as if looking for something. She woke up screaming, trembling with fear. I held her close, stroked her head: — It’s alright, sweetheart. Everything will be alright now. I stitched clothes for her out of old dresses—dyed in all colours, blue, green, red. Not fancy, but cheerful. Claudia was amazed: — Anna, you’ve got golden hands! I thought you only knew how to handle a spade. — Life teaches you both sewing and mothering, — I replied, secretly glad for her praise. Not all in the village were understanding, especially old Maude—whenever she saw us, she’d cross herself: — No good can come of this, Anna. Bringing in a foundling—asking for trouble. No doubt her mother was bad—that’s why she abandoned the child. The apple never falls far from the tree… — Enough, Maude! — I snapped. — Other people’s sins aren’t for you to judge. That child is mine now, end of. Even the farm head frowned at first: — Think about it, Anna Evans, maybe she’d be better off in the orphanage? They’d feed and clothe her properly. — Who will love her, though? — I challenged. — There are enough orphans there already. He shrugged but soon helped—sometimes sent milk, sometimes grains. Bit by bit, Mary grew brighter. At first one word at a time, then sentences. I remember her first laugh—I was reaching up to hang curtains and toppled off my chair. Sitting there rubbing my back, she burst out laughing—clear and bright. My pain vanished instantly in her joy. She started helping in the garden. I’d give her a little hoe—she’d step beside me, copying everything, more stamping down weeds than pulling them. But I never scolded, just delighted to see her full of life. Then tragedy struck—Mary came down with a terrible fever. Burning up, raving. I ran to our local medic, Simon Peters: — For heaven’s sake, help! He only spread his hands: — Medicine? All I’ve got for the whole village are three aspirin. Wait—they may send more next week. — Next week? — I cried. — She might not last till morning! I ran to the town—nine miles of mud. Shoes ruined, feet sore, but I made it. The young doctor there, Michael Alexander, looked at me—filthy and soaked: — Wait here. He brought out medicine, explained how to use it: — No pay needed, — he said. — Just get the girl better. For three days I never left her bedside, mumbling prayers, changing compresses. On the fourth day, her fever broke and she quietly said: — Mum, I want water. Mum… She called me mum for the first time. I wept—joy, relief, everything at once. She wiped away my tears with her little hand: — Mum, why are you crying? Does it hurt? — No, — I replied. — I’m just happy, sweetheart. After her illness, she was changed—loving, chatty. Soon she started school—the teacher couldn’t praise her enough: — Such a bright girl, picks up everything instantly! The villagers grew used to her; even old Maude thawed, dropping off pies for us. She grew fond of Mary after the child helped stoke her fire during a bitter cold snap. The old woman was laid up and hadn’t prepared wood. Mary volunteered: — Mum, let’s go to Maude’s? She must be so cold alone. They became friends—the old grump and my little girl. Maude shared stories, taught her knitting, never spoke again of foundlings or bad blood. Time passed. Mary was nine when she first mentioned the bridge. We sat together in the evening; I was darning socks, she rocking her homemade doll. — Mum, do you remember how you found me? My heart jumped, but I kept calm: — I remember, love. — I remember it a bit too. It was cold, and frightening. There was a woman crying, and then she left. My knitting needles fell from my hands. But she went on: — I don’t know her face, only her blue scarf. And she kept saying, “Forgive me, forgive me…” — Mary… — Don’t worry, Mum, it doesn’t upset me now. I just recall sometimes. And you know what? — she suddenly smiled. — I’m so glad you found me that day. I hugged her tight as my throat tightened. How often I’d wondered—who was that woman in the blue scarf? What drove her to leave her child under a bridge? Hunger, a drunken husband? So many things can happen in life. It’s not mine to judge. That night I lay awake, thinking how fate turns. Used to be, I felt cheated by life, condemned to loneliness. Yet it was all preparing me for the greatest task—to shelter and warm an abandoned child. From then on, Mary often asked about her past. I hid nothing, always trying to cushion the truth: — You know, child, people sometimes face choices with almost no way out. Maybe your mother suffered terribly deciding what she did. — Would you have ever done that? — she peered into my eyes. — Never, — I said firmly. — You are my joy, my blessing. Years flew by. Mary was top of her class, sometimes bursting home— — Mum, Mum! I read my poem in front of everyone today, and Miss Maria said I have a real gift! Her teacher, Maria Potter, often spoke to me: — Anna Evans, your girl must go on with her studies. Such a rare talent for words and language. You should see her work! — Where could she study? — I’d sigh. — We’ve no money… — I’ll help tutor for free; it would be a shame to waste such promise. So Maria tutored Mary—nights bent over books at our table. I’d bring them tea and homemade jam, listening as they discussed Shakespeare, Keats, Austen. My heart swelled—my girl soaked up everything. In her final year, Mary fell in love for the first time—with a new boy come to our village. She was heartbroken at times, scribbling poetry into a notebook she hid under her pillow. I pretended not to notice, though my heart ached for her—all first loves are bittersweet. After graduation, Mary sent off papers to teacher training college. I gave her everything I had and sold our cow—dear Daisy, I hated to part with her, but what else could I do? — No, Mum, — Mary protested. — How can you get by without the cow? — I’ll manage, love. There’s still potatoes, and hens laying. You need to study. When the acceptance letter came, the whole village celebrated. Even the farm head came to offer congratulations: — Well done, Anna! You raised a daughter and educated her. Now our village has its own scholar. I remember the day she left. We stood at the bus stop, waiting, arms around each other, tears streaming down her face. — I’ll write every week, Mum. And come home every break. — Of course, you will, — I said, heart breaking. The bus vanished over the hill, and I kept standing, unable to move. Claudia came and put her arm round me: — Come on, Anna, there’s plenty needing doing at home. — You know, Claudia, — I said, — I’m happy. Some have blood children, but mine was sent by God. She kept her promise—letters came often, each one a celebration. I read and reread them, knew every word by heart. She wrote of lectures, new friends, the city; between the lines, I read her longing for home. In her second year, she met her own James—a history student. She mentioned him in letters, shyly, but I sensed straight away—she was in love. That summer she brought him home, to meet me. He was serious and hard-working, helped me fix the roof and fence, made friends with neighbours. Evenings he sat on the porch, sharing stories from history that captivated us all. It was clear how deeply he cared for my Mary—never took his eyes off her. When she came for summer visits, everyone came to see what a beauty she’d grown into. Old Maude, now very frail, always crossed herself: — Lord, I was against you taking her in. Forgive me, I was a foolish old woman. Just look at the happiness she’s grown to! Now Mary teaches in the city—her own pupils, as Miss Maria taught her. She married James; they live together in love and harmony. They gave me a granddaughter—Annie, named after me. Little Annie is the spit of Mary as a child, only bolder. When they visit, she fills the house with clamour—always exploring, touching, climbing. I delight in her energy—a home without children’s laughter is like a church without bells. So here I sit, writing in my diary, while outside the snow swirls again. The floorboards still creak, the birch still taps the glass. But now, the quiet carries peace and gratitude—for every day lived, every smile of my Mary, for fate leading me to that old bridge. On my table stands a photo—Mary, James, and little Annie. Beside it, the old scarf I wrapped her in that day. I keep it to remember. Sometimes I stroke it—feeling the warmth of those days return. Yesterday Mary wrote again—she’s expecting another baby, a boy this time. James has already chosen a name—Stephen, for my late husband. So our family goes on; the memories will live. The old bridge is long gone—a sturdy new concrete one stands in its place. I rarely go by now, but each time I stop for a moment. Just thinking—how much life can change in a single day, a chance moment, a child’s cry on a damp March evening… They say fate tests us with loneliness so we learn to cherish those close. But I think otherwise—fate prepares us for the ones who need us most. It doesn’t matter if it’s blood—only that we heed the call of the heart. Mine, that day under the old bridge, did not lead me astray.

Whose little girl are you? I asked Come on, Ill carry you home, warm you up. I lifted her into my arms