Walton Merritt

**Diary Entry – The Last Straw** I scrubbed at the stubborn stains on the hob, my fingers stiff

One evening after ballet class, my five-year-old daughter Emily announced she was getting a new mother—her

The bus stop at the corner of Oak and High Street had its own rhythm. On summer mornings, the sunlight

“Oh, you’re trying, are you?” Margaret threw her hands up in exasperation. “

**My Husband Planned My Funeral… and That’s When My New Life Began** **The Return of Hope: A New Beginning

James Whitmore lived for control. Schedules, meetings, every detail that might disrupt his rigid routines.

The air smelled of Earl Grey and scones as I slipped into a cosy teashop near my office, rain tapping

Ever since her father’s death, Emily had been little more than a ghost in her own home—barely acknowledged

The morning sun cast a soft glow through the curtains as Margaret stood by the door, her hands clasped

Fate, it seemed, could not be cheated. Best friends Daisy and Emily had been inseparable since childhood