Emily Taylor

**Diary Entry** I never wanted to help my daughter, not after what she did. The whole village judged

Olivia refused to help her daughter, for she had once left her without a home. The whole village gossiped

**How I Ended Up Here** The ward smelled of cheap disinfectant, boiled cabbage, and age—so thick and

The ward smelled of cheap medicine, boiled cabbage, and old age—so thick and heavy you could almost spoon it out.

**That So-Called Friend** “Why did you tell me all this?” asked Emily, her voice quiet and strange.

**Diary Entry** The village never let me forget it—how I lived in a proper house while my daughter, Emily

Emily sat at the kitchen table, staring blankly at the ring with its tiny stone Victor had given her

Emily sat at the kitchen table, staring at the ring with a tiny stone that Victor had given her recently. “

Emily sat in the kitchen, staring at the ring with a tiny stone that Victor had given her recently.

**An Ordinary Miracle** We were back at that little café on the corner of the old neighbourhood—Emily