Emily Taylor

A Wife Discovers the Truth Too Late: — “Is this what you’re looking for?” she handed him the letter. Kolya turned pale. — “Zhenya, please… don’t jump to conclusions… It’s Lesha… It’s…” — “What shouldn’t I be thinking, Kolya? That my husband’s mother is alive and in prison? That you’ve both treated me like some naive wallflower?! — ‘A month? What do you mean—a month? We agreed you’d stay until autumn!’ My little one just started nursery, I’ve found a job close by… What’s happened? We pay on time, we’re quiet… — “It’s not about you…” Zhenya hesitated. “I just need to move back into my flat.” — “Why? Have you had a row with your husband?” — “Please—don’t ask questions you don’t need to.” A month from today—no more, no less! I’ll recalculate the rent and return your deposit. Sorry…” Zhenya hung up, shivering. She couldn’t wait for all of this to finally end…

Is this what you’re looking for? she stretched out the letter towards him. Nick turned pale.

La vida

Sent to the Care Home — Don’t you start with that nonsense, Alice, not a word of it! — Mrs. Gladys Thompson shoved away her bowl of porridge with surprising strength. — You want to pack me off to an institution, do you? So they can stick me with whatever they like and suffocate me with a pillow if I make a fuss? It won’t happen! Alice took a deep breath, trying not to look at her grandmother’s trembling hands. — Nan, what institution? It’s a private care home. It’s next to the woods, nurses are there round-the-clock. You’ll have company there, a huge telly to watch. Here, you’re alone all day while Dad’s at work. — That “company” rubbish, I know all about it — the old woman wheezed, settling back on her pillows. — They’ll rob me blind, take my flat, and chuck me in some ditch. Tell Paul straight: he’ll never get me out of my house alive. Let him look after me himself. He’s my son, isn’t he? Didn’t sleep a wink when he was sick with measles, now it’s his turn. — Dad’s working two jobs just to pay for your meds! He’s fifty-three, his blood pressure’s all over the place, not once been to the cinema in three years, let alone had a holiday! — He’ll manage, — Gladys clamped her lips shut. — Still young. And you watch your mouth. Children don’t tell their elders what to do. Go on, clean up that mess! Filth everywhere! Alice stepped into the hallway and exhaled noisily. How is she supposed to talk to her? Her father came home at seven. He sat down heavily on the footstool, staring at the floor. — Dad, you okay? — Alice took the heavy grocery bag from him. — Fine, love. Work’s stacked up at the warehouse, end-of-year coming. How’s Gran? — As usual. Another row about the care home, says we’re out to get rid of her. Dad, we can’t go on. After bills this month we’ve got three hundred quid for food. And I’ve got halls to pay for, plus books. — We’ll manage, — Paul heaved himself up, pulled off his shoes. — I took on another shift. Night security, every other night. — That’s mad! When will you sleep? You’ll collapse at this rate! He said nothing, just filled a saucepan and put it on the hob. — Has she eaten? — Half went on the bed. I changed the sheets. — Right. Go do your studying for exams. I’ll feed her, and sort her out. Alice watched her limping father go to her grandmother’s room. She pitied him terribly. She saw the man who once laughed and joked fade day by day. The jokes were gone; joy vanished from his eyes. *** A week later, things got worse — he came home late, clearly unsteady. — Dad? Are you ill? — I’m fine, Alice. Just dizzy on the Tube. Too stuffy. — Sit down. I’ll check your blood pressure. The monitor showed 180 over 110. Alice silently fetched the tablets. — Tomorrow you’re not going in. I’m calling the doctor. — I can’t — he winced. — Inspection tomorrow. If I’m not there, I’ll lose my bonus. And Mum’s council tax just went up. — Sell her flat, Dad! — Alice whispered, so Gran wouldn’t hear. — Sell her one-bed in Essex. Six hundred grand — that’s masses for us. Clear the debts, hire a proper carer. Dad sighed: — She won’t agree… — Dad, she’s not set foot in the place for five years! What’s the point if she’s bedbound? He didn’t answer — a loud bang sounded in the other room. Gladys was banging her mug for attention. — Paul! Paul, get in here! Who are you whispering with? Gossiping about me again? — her creaky voice echoed. Paul took the pill Alice offered and went. *** Six years ago, Dad had a girlfriend — Helen. Kind and calm, she visited, brought lemon drizzle cake, and they planned weekends away. It ended when Gran fell ill. Helen tried to help, but Gladys made her life hell. — Coming after my son, are you? — she’d shout, faking “heart attacks” every time Paul had a date. — Get rid of her! Out! So Helen left, and Dad didn’t even try to get her back. Later, when Alice was revising for exams, the house phone rang. Dad wasn’t home. — Hello? — Is that Paul Thompson? — a male voice asked. — No, this is his daughter. What’s happened? — This is HR. Your dad collapsed at work. Paramedics took him to City Hospital. Write down the address. Alice scrawled the details over her revision notes. No sooner had she hung up than Gran hollered for her. — Alice! Who was that? Where’s Paul? Hurry and bring some tea! Alice went in. Gran, mummified with pillows, scowled. — Dad’s in hospital, — Alice said tersely. — Hospital? — Gladys froze, then sneered: — Well, you lot have driven me to it! He shouted at me yesterday, and now God’s punished him. No one ever thinks of me! Who’s going to feed me now? Put that kettle on. Alice left in silence. *** For three days Alice scrambled between hospital and home. Doctors diagnosed Paul with a hypertensive crisis caused by chronic stress. They ordered strict bedrest. — Alice, how’s Mum? — he asked first thing when she visited. — She’s fine, Dad. Our neighbour’s checking in. You need to focus on yourself. At least a fortnight off. — Two weeks… I’ll get sacked… Money… — Sleep, — Alice tucked him in. — I’ll sort everything. I promise. On day four, when she got home, Gran greeted her with a barrage of nagging. — Where d’you wander to? I’m lying in filth, Paul’s lazing in hospital, and I’m left to rot! Alice balled her fists and spoke, steady and calm. — Listen, Nan. Dad’s very ill, next time could be a stroke. — Codswallop! — Gladys scoffed. — He’s tough. Takes after his dad. Come turn me, my side’s going numb. — No, — Alice sat down. — I’m not turning you. Or feeding you. Gladys stared at her in disbelief. — What’s this now? You lost your mind, girl? — No. There’s no money. None. Dad can’t work, no bonus coming. Your pension barely covers your medication. — Rubbish! Paul’s bound to have some savings. — No savings. It all went last month, on your hospital tests. So either sign to let us sell your Essex flat, or tomorrow I’ll ring Social Services — they’ll take you to a state home. Free. — You wouldn’t dare! — Gladys shouted. — I’m his mother! This is my home! — Your home? You’re destroying your son, and you don’t care if he never leaves hospital. All that matters is your comfort. I called the care home about a place. There’s one free now — money from your flat pays for it. The care there is excellent. — I’m not going, — Gladys began coughing. — Then starve. There’s no food money. I’m out working all day tomorrow. Water’s on your table. Up to you. Alice left, closing the door. She was shaking. She’d never been cruel, but knew now: unless she put a stop to this, she’d lose her dad. And Gran… would simply outlive them both if allowed to drain their lives away. The night was silent. Alice stayed out of the room, though she heard Gladys calling, sobbing, cursing. She entered only in the morning. — Some water… — the old woman croaked. Alice held up the cup. — Well? Are we signing? Solicitor arrives at noon. — Vultures… — Gladys rasped. — After everything… Fine. Write your papers. Tell Paul… tell him to visit. — He will. When he’s back on his feet. And I will, too. Promise. *** Paul sat on a bench in the care home’s park, looking much better — a little weight on, pinker cheeks. His mother sat nearby in her wheelchair — clean and wrapped in a new shawl, munching on an apple. — Paul? Paul, — she called. — Yes, Mum? — Did you ring Helen? Made it up, have you? Paul looked surprised. — I did. She’s coming on Saturday. — Good, — Gladys turned to the flowerbeds. — Let her come. There’s a nurse here, young Lena — very bossy, always telling me off. Let your Helen see how they treat me… And you mind how you treat her, Paul! Bad business when a man makes a woman cry. Your father… Paul smiled and squeezed her hand. Down the path ran Alice, waving, grinning from ear to ear. — Dad! Gran! — she yelled from afar. — I got the grant! And a raise at work! Paul stood with arms wide. Gladys watched them, narrowing her eyes. She still grumbled to herself about being forced from her home, but said nothing aloud. When the carer offered her a massage session, Gladys gave an imperious nod. — All right, dear, just careful — I’m a delicate woman, you know. Last time your masseur nearly broke my leg… You tell him to mind what he’s doing. Like a bear, honestly… The nurse wheeled her away. Alice hugged her father, and the two stood watching the tall pines. For the first time in ages, all three were truly happy. *** Gladys lived to meet her great-grandson — Alice graduated, married a decent man, and had a baby boy. Paul married Helen; Gladys grew close to her new daughter-in-law, even forgot the insults she’d once hurled. She passed away peacefully in her sleep, with no grudges left against her granddaughter or son.

They Sent Her to a Care Home Dont you dare, Alice. Just dont. Maureen firmly pushed the bowl of porridge

La vida

012

Big Sister, Not the Babysitter: When Family Duties Collide with Growing Up in England

A Babysitter for My Brother Whats the matter, Emily? Still not answering? Not a single word!

La vida

010

We Had High Hopes That Mum Would Retire, Move to the Countryside, and Leave Her Spacious Three-Bedroom Flat to Me and My Husband!

I always hoped my mum would retire, move to the countryside, and leave her spacious three-bedroom flat

La vida

013

Reforming a Husband: A British Wife’s Journey from Betrayal to Forgiveness After Her Spouse’s Affair and the Struggle to Rebuild Love, Trust, and Family Bonds

We were together, Val. You know, on that last trip to Manchester. The whole thing happened so stupidly.

La vida

012

How I Made My Mother-in-Law the Laughing Stock—A Tale She Probably Still Remembers to This Day

How I Embarrassed My Mother-in-Law. I Bet She Still Remembers This is a story from the very start of

La vida

The Cupboard and the Scales She wasn’t rummaging in the cupboard for nostalgia—just for a jar of pickled cucumbers for her salad. On the top shelf, half-hidden behind a box of Christmas lights, she spotted the corner of a case that, by all rights, shouldn’t still exist in her flat. The fabric was faded, and the zipper stuck. She pulled it, and from the back emerged the long, narrow shape of a violin case—like a stretched shadow. She set the jar on a stool by the door, so she wouldn’t forget, and crouched down as if that might make deciding easier. The zipper finally yielded on the third try. Inside lay a violin: the varnish dull in places, strings slack, the bow fuzzy and worn like an old broom. But its shape was unmistakable, and something clicked in her chest—a light switch flipped. She remembered lugging the case around school in Year 10, self-conscious that she looked silly. Then there was college, a job, a wedding—and one day she simply stopped going to music lessons, having to keep up with a different sort of life. The violin went to her parents for safekeeping, then moved with her other things, and now it lay here among carrier bags and boxes, not wronged, simply forgotten. She lifted the violin gingerly, as though it might fall apart. The wood felt warm under her palm, though the cupboard was chilly. Her fingers naturally found the fingerboard, and she felt awkward: her hand didn’t remember how to hold it, as though she was borrowing something that wasn’t hers. The kettle whistled in the kitchen. She got up, shut the cupboard, but left the case out, propped it in the hallway, and went to turn off the hob. She could manage the salad without the cucumbers. She realised she was already making excuses. That evening, with the washing up done and only breadcrumbs left on the table, she brought the case to the living room. Her husband sat in front of the TV, channel-hopping, barely paying attention. He glanced up. “What have you found there?” “A violin,” she replied—surprised at her own calm. “Ah. Still in one piece?” he grinned, but not unkindly—just with the familiar family humour. “Don’t know. Might check.” She opened the case on the sofa, laying an old towel under it so as not to scratch the upholstery. She took out the violin, the bow, a little rosin box—cracked now, like ice on a puddle. She ran the bow across it; the hairs just catching the surface. Tuning was its own humiliation. The pegs were stubborn, the strings screeched, one snapped and whipped her finger. She cursed quietly so the neighbours wouldn’t hear. Her husband snorted. “Maybe you should take it to a shop?” he suggested. “Maybe,” she agreed, though what stung was not him, but her own inability—not even able to tune it. She found a tuner app on her phone and set it on the coffee table. The screen flashed letters and the needle jumped. She turned the pegs, listening as the sound dropped too low or soared too high. Her shoulder ached, her fingers were clumsy. When the strings finally stopped sounding like wind rattling wires, she raised the violin to her chin. The chinrest was cold, and she thought the skin of her neck had turned paper-thin. She tried to stand up straight, as she’d been taught, but her back wouldn’t obey. She laughed—a gentle, self-deprecating laugh. “Is this your big concert?” her husband asked, eyes on the TV. “For you,” she said. “Brace yourself.” The first note was so raw she flinched—not a sound, but a complaint. The bow wobbled, her arm didn’t hold a steady line. She stopped, breathed, tried again. A little better, but still embarrassing. But it was an adult embarrassment—different from a teenager’s, that self-conscious feeling the whole world is watching. Here, no one watched; just the walls, her husband, and her own hands that felt foreign. She played open strings, counting in her mind as she used to. Then tried a D major scale, fingers fumbling on the left hand. She couldn’t recall which finger went where—her fingers, thicker now, pads too soft, missing the familiar ache. “It’s alright,” her husband said suddenly. “I mean… not perfect. But give it time.” She nodded, not sure who the reassurance was for—him, her, or the violin. The next day she went to the shop by the tube station. Not romantic: glass door, counter, guitars and violins hung on the wall, smelling of varnish and dust. The technician, a young man with an earring, took the violin as if it were a normal everyday tool. “You’ll need new strings, definitely. Pegs need lubing, bridge needs tweaking. Bow could use a re-hair—that’s pricier, though.” She heard “pricier” and instantly bristled, thoughts of gas bills, medicines, a birthday gift for her granddaughter. She almost said, “Never mind,” but instead asked: “What if we just do the strings and bridge for now?” “Sure. She’ll play.” She left the violin and got a receipt. As she walked out, she felt like she’d sent off a piece of herself for repairs and hoped it’d come back working. At home, she opened her laptop and searched “violin lessons for adults.” The phrase made her smile. For adults. As if grown-ups were a special tribe needing extra explanation and patience. She found a handful of ads. Some promised “results in a month”, others “individual approach.” The words made her nervous, so she closed the tabs. Then opened them again, and wrote to a woman teacher from her neighbourhood. Kept it short: “Hello. I’m 52. Want to brush up my skills. Is that possible?” She regretted it instantly, wanting to delete it like a confession. But it was sent. Her son visited that evening, came into the kitchen, kissed her cheek, asked about work. She set the kettle on, fetched a tin of biscuits. He spotted the case in the corner. “Is that a violin?” Genuine surprise. “Yes. Found it. Thinking… of giving it a go.” “Mum, really?” His smile was not teasing, more puzzled. “It’s been… ages.” “Exactly,” she said. “That’s why.” He sat, turning a biscuit in his hands. “Why, though? You’re always tired.” She felt herself bracing—ready to explain, justify, prove her right to this. But explanations always sounded pitiful. “I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I just want to.” He looked at her closely, as if seeing not the mother-who-keeps-everything-together, but a woman who wanted something for herself. “Alright, then,” he said. “Just don’t overdo it. Poor neighbours.” She laughed. “They’ll live. I’ll play daytime.” After he’d gone, she realised she felt lighter—not because he’d given permission, but because she hadn’t explained herself. Two days later, she picked up her violin from the shop. The strings gleamed, the bridge was straight. The technician explained how to string and store it. “Don’t leave near the radiator,” he warned. “Keep it in the case.” She nodded, like a proper student. At home, she put the case on a chair, opened it and stared, as if afraid to break it again. She started with the simplest exercise: long bows on open strings. As a child, it had felt a dull punishment. Now it felt like salvation—no tune, no judgement, just sound and the effort to make it even. Her shoulder ached after ten minutes. Her neck stiffened after fifteen. She stopped, zipped up the case. Anger welled—at her body, her age, at how hard it all was now. She went to the kitchen, poured herself a glass of water, and stared out the window. Teenagers on the playground rode scooters, shrieking with laughter. She envied not their youth, but their shamelessness—falling, getting up, never thinking it was too late to learn balance. She went back to the living room, opened the case again—not out of necessity, but because she didn’t want to finish with anger. The teacher replied that evening: “Hello. Of course it’s possible. Come by and we’ll start with posture and simple exercises. Age isn’t a barrier, but patience is needed.” She read it twice. Patience felt honest—and comforting. She took her violin to the first lesson, case in hand, as if carrying something fragile and precious. On the tube, strangers glanced, some smiled. Let them, she thought. Let them see. Her instructor turned out to be a petite, fortysomething woman—short hair, sharp but kind eyes. Piano in the corner, scores on the shelf, a child-sized violin on a chair. “Let’s take a look,” she said, motioning her to pick up the instrument. She did, and instantly it was obvious—her shoulder hunched, chin clamped, left wrist stiff. “No worries,” the teacher said. “You haven’t played. Let’s just stand for now. Feel that the violin isn’t your enemy.” She laughed, a little embarrassed: standing at fifty-two to learn where to place a violin. But there was something freeing in it, too. No one expected her to be good—they only expected her to show up. After the lesson, her hands shook as after PE. The teacher gave instructions: ten minutes on open strings daily, then the scale—not more than that. “It’s better little and often,” she said. At home, her husband asked: “How did it go?” “Hard,” she replied. “But fine.” “Are you happy?” She thought about it. ‘Happy’ wasn’t right. She felt anxious, silly, embarrassed—and somehow, lighter. “Yes,” she answered. “I feel like I’m making something with my hands again—not just working and cooking.” After a week, she dared try a simple melody she remembered since childhood. She printed the sheet music at work, hid it in her files so colleagues wouldn’t inquire. At home, she set up a makeshift stand from books and boxes. The sound was shaky, the bow sometimes snagged on neighbouring strings, fingers missed notes. She stopped, restarted. At one point, her husband poked his head in. “You know… it’s nice,” he said cautiously, as if fearing to spook her. “Don’t pretend,” she replied. “I’m not. It’s… recognisable.” She smiled. Recognisable—almost a compliment. At the weekend, her granddaughter visited. She was six, and immediately noticed the case. “Gran, what’s that?” “A violin.” “Can you play?” She nearly said “once,” but her granddaughter didn’t understand “once.” To her, there was only “now.” “I’m learning,” she said. Her granddaughter perched on the sofa, hands folded, as at a school assembly. “Play!” She felt herself tense. Playing for a child was scarier than for grown-ups—a child hears honestly. “Alright,” she said, picking up the violin. She played the melody she’d been wrestling with all week. On the third line, the bow slipped, producing a squeal. Her granddaughter didn’t flinch, just tilted her head. “Why does it squeak?” “Because Gran’s bow is crooked,” she chuckled. Her granddaughter giggled too. “Do it again!” And she did. It didn’t sound much better, but she didn’t let shame stop her—she played to the end. That evening, when everyone was busy elsewhere, she was left alone in the room. Sheet music on the table, beside a pencil for tricky sections. The violin in its case, closed but not shut away in the cupboard—standing by the wall, a reminder it belonged in her day. She set a timer on her phone for ten minutes—not to force herself, but to keep from burning out. Opened the case, checked the rosin, the bow tension. Lifted the violin to her chin, exhaled. The sound was softer now, though still shaky. She carried on, adjusting her hand, listening as the note wavered and settled. When the timer sounded, she didn’t stop right away—she finished the bow stroke, gently put the violin away, closed the case, and set it by the wall, not the cupboard. She knew tomorrow would be much the same: a bit of shame, a bit of fatigue, a few pure moments worth opening the case for. And that was enough to keep going.

Storage Cupboard and Scales Today, I rummaged in the storage cupboardnot for nostalgia, just for a jar

La vida

013

I Saw It Happen She was just closing the office cash register when her manager poked her head out of the room and asked if she could “pick up” the supplier report tomorrow. The request was gentle, but clearly not open to refusal. She nodded, even as her mind tallied the tasks waiting for her: collect her son from school, stop by the pharmacy for her mother’s medicine, check homework at home. She’d lived for years trying not to argue, not to draw attention, not to give anyone a reason. At work, they called it reliability; at home, calm. That evening, she walked from the bus stop, clutching a bag of groceries. Her son ambled beside her, head down over his phone, asking every so often if he could have “just five more minutes.” She answered “later,” knowing that later always came on its own. At the zebra crossing near the shopping centre, she stopped at the green pedestrian light. Cars lined up in two rows; someone honked impatiently. She stepped onto the crossing, just as a dark SUV darted from the right lane, overtaking and trying to beat the flashing signal. The crash sounded dry, like a heavy wardrobe falling. The SUV slammed into a white Ford coming through the junction. The Ford spun; its rear veered sharp onto the crossing. People nearby jumped back. She had time only to grab her son’s sleeve and pull him close. A heartbeat—and everything froze. Then someone screamed. The Ford’s driver sat bent over, slow to lift his head. The SUV’s airbags deployed; behind the glass she glimpsed a man’s face, already reaching for the door handle. She set her shopping down on the pavement, took out her phone, and dialled 999. The operator’s voice was calm, as though this wasn’t really happening. “A collision, the crossroads by the shopping centre—there are casualties,” she said as clearly as she could. “The car spun into the crossing, the driver in the white car…I don’t know if he’s conscious.” Her son stood pale beside her, staring in a way that made her suddenly feel genuinely grown up. As she answered the operator’s questions, a young man ran to the Ford, opened the door, spoke softly to the driver. The SUV’s man got out quickly, confidently, phoning someone. Expensive coat, no hat, and an air as though this was merely a delayed flight. Paramedics arrived, then police. An officer asked who’d seen the moment of impact. She raised her hand—the obvious witness. “Let me take your details,” the inspector said, pulling out a notepad, “and tell me what you saw.” She gave her name, address, number. The words came out dry and steady. She described the SUV flying from the right, the Ford on its signal, people scattered on the crossing. The officer nodded, jotting notes. The SUV’s man came closer, as if just passing by. His look wasn’t menacing, but she felt uneasy. “You’re sure?” he asked quietly, almost casually. “There are CCTV cameras. Everything’s visible.” “I know what I saw,” she replied. Instantly, she regretted the bluntness. He gave a small, crooked smile and stepped away. Her son tugged her sleeve. “Mum, can we go home now?” he asked. The inspector returned her passport, warning she might be called for further questioning. She nodded and, gathering her shopping, led her son through the estate. At home, she scrubbed her hands for ages, though they were perfectly clean. Her son was silent, then asked: “Will that man go to prison?” “I don’t know,” she said. “That’s not up to us.” That night, she dreamed of the crunch, the SUV forcing the air aside. The next day at work, numbers blurred as her mind kept looping back to the crossroads. After lunch, a call came from an unknown number. “Good afternoon, you were a witness yesterday,” a polite male voice said, not introducing himself. “I’m calling on behalf of those involved. Just want to make sure you’re coping.” “Who are you?” she asked. “Not important. It’s just—these situations are never straightforward. Witnesses get hassled and dragged to court for ages. You don’t need that—child, work, life.” His tone was soft, as if suggesting a brand of laundry detergent. This frightened her even more. “No one’s pressuring me,” she said, hearing her own voice tremble. “Good,” he replied. “Just say you’re not certain. Say it all happened too fast. It’ll be easier for everyone.” She ended the call and stared at her phone for several seconds, then tucked it away, as if hiding the conversation itself. That evening, she went by her mother’s flat in an old council block. Her mum answered in a flannel dressing gown, launching straight into complaints about the GP mix-up and blood pressure. “Mum,” she said, helping with the tablets, “if you saw a crash and they told you not to get involved, what would you do?” Her mother sighed: “I’d keep out of it. I’m too old for heroics. You should too. You’ve got your boy.” The words were simple, almost caring, but it stung, as if her mum didn’t believe she was strong enough. The next day, another call came—from a different number. “We’re just concerned,” the familiar voice said. “The man has a family, a job. People make mistakes. But witnesses get dragged through this for years. Maybe you’d rather submit a statement that you didn’t actually see the impact?” “I saw it,” she replied. “Are you sure you want to get pulled into this?” His tone went frosty. “Your boy—he goes to what school?” She suddenly felt everything contract inside. “How do you know?” she asked. “Small town,” came the smooth response. “We’re not enemies. We just want what’s best for you.” She hung up and for a long time stared at the kitchen table. Her son was nearby scribbling homework. Eventually, she got up, double-locked the door, even though she knew a chain couldn’t keep out a phone call. A few days later, a man stopped her near the flats. Plain clothes, no badge, waiting unmistakably for her. “You’re from flat 27?” he asked. “Yes,” she replied automatically. “It’s about that accident. Don’t worry,” he said, raising both palms as if she’d backed away. “I know people involved. You don’t want to be dragged into court hearings. We can sort this out. Just say you’re unsure and that’s that.” “I don’t want money,” she blurted, not even sure why. “No one mentioned money,” he smiled. “This is about peace of mind. You’ve got your kid—things are tense these days. Schools, work—you don’t need the extra stress.” He said “extra” as if it were trash to be taken out. She hurried past, hands shaking once in the lift. Inside her flat, she set her bag down and went to her son. “Don’t leave school alone tomorrow,” she told him calmly. “I’ll fetch you.” “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Nothing,” she replied, realising it was a lie becoming real. Monday, a summons arrived. She was to give a statement and identify the parties involved at the station. The letter was official, stamped. She filed it with her papers, but it felt as heavy as a stone. That evening, her manager kept her late. “Listen,” she said, closing the office door, “someone asked about you. Very polite—said you’re a witness and shouldn’t be stressed. I hate when people come to me about staff. Take care.” “Who was it?” she asked. “No idea. Just… confident types.” Her manager shrugged. “Honestly, maybe it’s best not to get involved? We’ve got deadlines and inspections. Calls and hassle mess things up for everyone.” Leaving the office, she felt her right not only to speak but to hide behind numbers was being stripped away. At home, she told her husband everything. He sat quietly, spoon suspended above his soup. “You realise this could end badly?” he asked. “I do,” she said. “Then why do it?” He wasn’t harsh, just tired. “We’ve got the mortgage, your mum, our son. Do you want the stress?” “I don’t,” she answered. “But I saw it.” He looked at her as if she were a naive child. “Forget what you saw,” he said. “You owe nothing to anyone.” She didn’t argue. To argue was to admit there was a choice, and choice felt heavier than threats. On the day she was called in, she woke early, packed her son’s breakfast, checked her phone battery, put the letter, passport, and a notepad in her bag. She messaged her friend where she was going and when she’d expect to be done. Her friend replied simply: “Got it. Text me when you’re finished.” The station smelled of paper and wet mats. She hung up her coat, reported to the desk, and waited in the investigator’s office. The investigator was young, tired-faced. He offered a chair, set his recorder going. “Do you understand the consequences of false testimony?” he asked. “Yes.” He questioned calmly: Where were you standing? What was the signal? Which side did the SUV come from? Did you see its speed? She answered precisely, sticking to the facts. Then he looked up. “Has anyone contacted you?” he asked. She paused. Admitting it would mean admitting she’d already been touched by it all. Keeping quiet meant shouldering it alone. “Yes,” she said. “Calls, people at my building—they told me to say I wasn’t sure.” He nodded as though he’d expected this. “Do you still have the numbers?” She showed him her phone. He noted them, asked her to screenshot and send them to his work email. She did this in front of him, hands awkward on the screen. Then she was sent into the corridor until it was time for identification. Sitting on a bench, clutching her bag, she saw the SUV driver appear, lawyer at his side, speaking quietly. As he passed, he glanced at her, calm, even a bit weary, like someone who expects everything will be settled. The lawyer paused by her. “You’re the witness?” he asked with a smile. “Yes.” “I’d advise caution with your account,” he said just as gently. “People get confused in stressful moments. No one wants you burdened by mistake.” “I only want to speak the truth,” she said. “A truth is different for everyone,” he replied, moving on. She was called in, shown a series of photos, asked to pick out the driver. She did. She signed a statement; the pen left crisp blue lines, reassuring—it couldn’t be erased by a phone call. When she left the station it was already dark. She walked to the bus stop, glancing behind, though no one followed. On the bus, she sat nearer the driver, like people who need some sense of safety. At home, her husband said nothing. Her son poked his head round his bedroom door. “So?” he asked. “I told them what happened,” she said. Her husband exhaled loudly. “You know they won’t leave you alone now?” he said. “I know,” she replied. All night, she lay awake, listening for doors, for footsteps in the stairwell. Each sound felt like a warning. In the morning she walked her son to school herself, inconvenient but necessary. She asked his teacher not to let him leave with anyone—even if they “come from Mum.” The teacher looked closely at her and nodded. At work, her manager was even more distant. Her assignments thinned; colleagues avoided her eyes. No one spoke directly, but an empty space formed around her. The calls stopped for a week. Then a new message came—no signature: “Think about your family.” She showed it to the investigator, as instructed. His reply was terse: “Noted. Let me know if anything else happens.” She didn’t feel protected, but at least her words hadn’t vanished. One evening, the downstairs neighbour caught her at the lift. “I heard you’re in a mess,” she whispered. “If you need anything, my husband’s here and we can put in for a security camera together.” Her neighbour spoke simply, no heroics, as if discussing a new intercom. Tears pricked at her eyes. A month later, she was called again—the case was going to trial; there’d be more hearings. The investigator made no promises about justice, stuck to procedures and protocols, paperwork and witness statements. “Any more threats?” he asked. “No—not exactly. I just keep waiting.” “That’s normal,” he said. “Try to live as before. Tell us if anything happens.” She left the station thinking “normal” felt like someone else’s word. Her life was not as before. She was more cautious: changed her walking routes, never left her son alone outside, installed a call recorder app, kept her friend up-to-date. She didn’t feel brave—only like she was holding the line against collapse. In court, when called to testify, she saw the SUV driver again—straight-backed, quietly taking notes, never looking her way. That was worse than eye contact: as though she was just part of the background paperwork. When asked, “Are you sure about your statement?” a wave of fear rose. She flashed to her son waiting at school, her manager’s dry expression, her mum’s warning to stay out—all in an instant. Still, she said: “Yes. I’m sure.” After the hearing, she stood on the steps, hands icy inside her gloves. Her friend texted: “You okay?” She replied: “I’m alive. Going home.” On the way, she stopped for bread and apples, because there were still dinners to be made. That somehow comforted her—the world still needed ordinary things. At home her son met her at the door. “Mum, are you coming to the parents’ meeting tonight?” She looked at him and realised his question was everything. “I’ll be there,” she said. “But first, let’s eat.” Later, double-locking the door and ensuring the chain was on, she realised she wasn’t panicked—just careful, as part of this new life. The cost of calm had to be learned all over again. She hadn’t won, wasn’t lauded, hadn’t become a hero. What she carried was simple and heavy: she hadn’t backed away from what she’d witnessed, and now she didn’t need to hide from herself anymore.

I saw it happen I was just about to close up the accounts office for the day when my manager poked her

La vida

Once a Month: Nina Finds Unexpected Community and Quiet Strength Thanks to a Neighbourly Noticeboard in Her English Block

Once a month Anne Matthews clutched a bag of rubbish to her chest as she paused by the noticeboard beside the lift.

La vida

The Empty Bench Sergey Petrovich placed his thermos on his knees and checked the lid—just to make sure it wasn’t leaking. The lid was fine, but habit always won over trust. He sat at the far end of the bench outside the school entrance, in the spot free from bustling parents and swinging backpacks. In one pocket of his jacket was a little bag of dry crumbs for the pigeons, in another, a folded note with his granddaughter’s schedule: after-school club days, music lessons. He’d memorised it all, but the paper calmed his nerves. Beside him, as always, sat Nicholas Andrew. He held a small packet of sunflower seeds, popping them from shell to palm without even watching. He didn’t eat the seeds; just poured them back and forth, as if counting. When Sergey Petrovich arrived, Nicholas Andrew nodded, shifting slightly to make space. They never greeted each other loudly; it would feel wrong, as though disturbing school order. “They’ve got a maths test today,” Nicholas Andrew said, glancing at the upstairs windows. “We’ve got reading,” replied Sergey Petrovich, surprised by his own use of “we.” He liked that Nicholas Andrew never teased him for this. They’d met without any fuss at first—just timing, then recognition by coats, by gait, by the way each held his hands. Nicholas Andrew came precisely ten minutes before the bell, sat on the same bench, and always checked the school gates. Sergey had stood aside at first, but one day, tired, he sat down. From then, the bench was theirs. The school yard never changed, which was oddly reassuring: the security guard in his booth, slipping out for a smoke and back, never raising his eyes; the primary teacher, bustling past with a folder, muttering “Yes, yes, after lessons” into her phone; parents debating activities and homework; children waving from break-time windows. Sergey Petrovich realised he looked forward not just to seeing his granddaughter, but to this daily rhythm. One day Nicholas Andrew brought a second cup and set it beside Sergey’s thermos. “I don’t pour myself any,” he said, almost apologetic. “Blood pressure.” “I’m allowed,” Sergey replied, hesitating before pouring a finger’s worth into the cup. “Would you at least like a sniff?” Nicholas Andrew smiled, just a little. “A sniff’s fine.” After that, their ritual began: Sergey poured the tea, Nicholas held the cup to avoid spills, returning it empty. Sometimes they shared biscuits, sometimes silence. Sergey noticed Nicholas’s silence was comfortable, like a pause in a conversation bound to continue. Grandchildren were discussed gently, like the weather. Nicholas Andrew said his grandson Victor (“Vicky”), disliked PE, always finding an excuse to stay in class. Sergey Petrovich laughed—his granddaughter Anna was the opposite, running so wildly the teacher begged her to slow down. Soon their conversations deepened. Nicholas Andrew admitted, after his wife’s passing, he couldn’t leave the house until the school’s routine pulled him out because he “had to.” Sergey didn’t share his own story right away, but later, washing up, realised he wanted to. He lived with his daughter and granddaughter in a small flat on the city’s edge. His daughter worked in accounting, came home tired, speaking in clipped sentences. Anna was noisy, her noise wholesome and bright. Sergey aimed to help without getting in the way—sometimes he felt like an extra kitchen chair: unobtrusive, yet still a reminder of cramped space. Sitting on the bench, for the first time he felt wanted for more than just his practical use. Nicholas Andrew asked, “How’s your blood pressure?” or “Been to the doctor lately?”—and it wasn’t just politeness. Sergey replied, and caught himself speaking honestly. One morning Nicholas Andrew brought birdseed. “The pigeons are used to us now,” he said. “Look how close they come.” Sergey spread a handful on the pavement. The pigeons gathered as if awaiting command. Their feet shuffled in the grit, and Sergey felt a strange relief: a simple act that made someone’s day a little better. Soon, he counted their meetings—not as “while Anna’s in class,” or “when there’s time,” but an essential part of his day. He even stopped cutting it close, started arriving early to claim his spot and watch Nicholas sit, remove his gloves, gaze up at the windows. Then one Monday, Sergey arrived as usual—and the bench was empty. He stopped, unsure he hadn’t entered the wrong courtyard. Rain had left the bench damp; a single yellow leaf clung to the wood. Sergey wiped the seat, settled down, thermos at his side, pigeon crumbs in his lap. The security guard, absorbed in his phone, didn’t notice. “He’s just late,” Sergey thought. Nicholas sometimes got held up at the chemist. Sergey poured himself some tea, sipped, and waited. When the bell rang, Nicholas hadn’t come. Next day, the bench was still vacant. Sergey didn’t bother wiping it down, sat on the dry spot, using a newspaper as protection. He watched every older man in a dark coat, hoping. No one arrived. By day three, frustration crept in—not at Nicholas Andrew, but at being left without explanation. “Maybe I don’t need it after all,” he thought, almost ashamed at his own expectation. But he couldn’t stop expecting. Nicholas Andrew had a simple old phone; Sergey had seen him squint, searching for numbers. He’d jotted down Nicholas’s number while arranging a taxi for Victor once. At home, he found the note and dialled. Ringing, then a brief beep, then silence. He tried again—same result. On the fourth day, Sergey approached the security guard. “Excuse me, Nicholas Andrew… Victor’s grandfather, he always sat here. Have you seen him?” The guard looked up as if Sergey had asked for a password. “Lots of grandads here,” he shrugged. “Don’t keep track.” “He’s tall, has a moustache…” Sergey realised how pathetic he sounded. “No idea,” the guard was already back to his phone. Sergey tried the woman at the gates, usually complaining about homework. “Do you know Nicholas Andrew?” “I don’t know anyone,” she snapped. “I’ve got my own to worry about.” He asked a young mum with a buggy who sometimes smiled at him. “Sorry, do you know Victor, in Year 3?” “Victor?” she said, thinking. “Quiet boy, yes. Why?” “His grandfather… stopped coming.” She shrugged. “Maybe he’s ill. Everyone is, these days.” Sergey returned to the bench, feeling anxiety rising. He tried to convince himself it wasn’t his business, but each glance at the empty spot felt like betraying something important by just sitting and pretending nothing was wrong. That evening he told his daughter as she chopped salad. “Dad, who knows?” she said, not looking up. “Maybe he went to relatives.” “He’d have told me,” Sergey replied. “You never know,” she sighed. “Don’t stress. Your blood pressure.” Anna listened, notebook open. “Granddad Nick?” she asked. “He’s nice. He once said I read faster than he thinks.” Sergey smiled, but it hurt. “See?” said Anna. “Maybe he just… has things to do.” Sergey nodded, but lay awake that night, listening to his daughter’s quiet phone call in the next room. He wanted to get up and dial the number again, but feared hearing a stranger—or nothing at all. The next afternoon, waiting for Anna, he spotted Victor. The boy left school last, backpack oversized. Alongside walked a stern woman, about forty, short hair—Victor’s mother, Sergey realised. He waited, then caught up with them. “Excuse me, are you Victor’s mum?” She tensed. “Yes. And you are?” “I… I waited for the children with your father, Nicholas Andrew. He hasn’t been here, I’m worried.” She studied him carefully, deciding if he was trustworthy. “He’s in hospital,” she finally said. “Stroke. Not too bad… well, as much as it can be. He’s on the ward. No phone—so he doesn’t lose it.” Sergey felt his knees buckle, clutching his bag strap. “Where?” he asked. “The City Hospital, up on Woodland Road,” she replied. “But you can’t just visit, there are rules.” “I understand,” Sergey said, though he didn’t. How could anyone block a visitor to someone all alone? “Thanks for asking,” she added, gentler now. “It’ll mean a lot to him, knowing he’s remembered.” She led Victor to the bus stop. Sergey remained at the gate—relieved at the explanation, yet anxious because it was so grave. At home, he told his daughter. She frowned. “Dad, you’re not going there,” she said. “They’ll have you on the security list. Anyway, who is he to you?” Sergey heard not anger, but fear: fear that he’d lose himself to new worries. “No one,” Sergey said. “Still…” The next day, he visited his local clinic, where he’d seen a poster for a social worker before. The corridor smelled of bleach and wet shoe covers. People lined up with files, grumbling. Sergey took a ticket, waited his turn. The woman behind the desk listened quietly, her face tired. “Are you family?” she asked. “No,” Sergey admitted. “Then I can’t give you patient information,” she replied evenly. “It’s private data.” “I just want to send a note,” Sergey’s voice sharpened. “He’s alone, you see? We… we met every day…” “I understand,” the woman softened a little. “You could send a note through his relatives. Or the ward, if permitted. But I need their consent.” Sergey left, sitting on the waiting-room bench, feeling ashamed, like he’d come begging. “That’s it. Silly old man, interfering,” he thought. He wanted to go home, shut himself away, never come back to school. But then he remembered Nicholas Andrew holding the tea cup, passing birdseed, brightening each day with small acts. Now it was Sergey’s turn to do something, anything. He called Victor’s mum, after approaching her again at school for her number. She refused at first, but gave in, seeing his persistence. “But no fuss,” she warned. “Strict routines there.” Sergey called in the evening. “This is Sergey Petrovich. I… I’d like to send Nicholas Andrew a few words. Could you…” There was a pause. “He can’t speak much now,” she said. “But he hears. I’m visiting tomorrow. What should I tell him?” Sergey glanced at his notebook, where he’d drafted some phrases—but they felt wrong. “Just tell him the bench is waiting,” he said quietly. “And I’m here. I’ll bring tea when I can.” “All right,” she replied. “I’ll let him know.” After, he sat in the kitchen a long while. His daughter washed dishes, pretending not to listen. Then she put the plate to dry and said, “Dad, if you want, I’ll go with you. When they let visitors in.” Sergey nodded. What mattered wasn’t her company, but that she’d said “with you” instead of “Why bother?” A week later, Victor’s mum met him again at school. “He smiled when I mentioned the bench,” she said. “Waved his hand, like this, inviting. The doctor says rehab will take a while. We’ll bring him to ours afterwards. Can’t leave him on his own.” Sergey felt something cinch inside. Daily meetings would likely never resume. The emptiness was like a coat missing from its hook. “May I write a letter?” Sergey asked. “You can,” she replied. “Keep it brief. It’s hard for him to focus long.” That evening, Sergey wrote in large letters for easy reading: “Nicholas Andrew, I’m here. Thank you for the tea and sunflower seeds. I’m waiting for when you’re ready. Sergey Petrovich.” After thinking, he added, “Victor is doing well.” He read it over, then left it unchanged. He folded the sheet, marked the surname from an old utility bill Nicholas had once shown him. Next day at school, Sergey handed the envelope to Victor’s mum. The envelope was dry, crisp—he carried it as if fragile. When the bell rang and the children streamed out, Anna hugged him and launched into her stories. Sergey listened, glancing at the bench. It was empty; and it no longer angered him. It had become a place where something mattered, even if that something was now absent. Before leaving, Sergey scattered bread crumbs for the pigeons. They swooped down, as if knowing the schedule as well as the children. Watching them, Sergey realised he could come not just to wait, but to stay open. “Granddad, what are you thinking?” Anna asked. “Nothing,” he replied, taking her hand. “Let’s go. We’ll come back tomorrow.” He said it not as a promise to someone else, but as a decision for himself. And his steps felt steadier because of that.

Empty Bench John Whitmore put his flask on his knees and double-checked the lid just in case, you know.