La vida

Youve grown so ugly, youre bound to have a daughter, my mother-in-law would say to me. Whenever others

As Mum and I walked back from the market, I spotted it first. It wasnt curled beneath the bench like

*”I see youdont hide. What are you doing in our stairwell?”* The cat glanced up guiltily

Martha Wilson headed to work earlier than usual. On weekends, the kids always left a mess, so she arrived at 4 a.

**Diary Entry** I still remember the day Dad left. Six-year-old Toby clung to his leg, sobbing. “

**Unwelcome Guests** The phone jolted Valerie awake at five in the morning. An unknown number flashed

James shoved open the front door, letting the cold gloom of early dusk seep into the dimly lit hallway.

“Rom, darling, we have twins!” sobbed Tanya into the phone, her voice trembling with joy. “

The Tale of a Boy with a Wounded Heart and a Rescued Hound Thomas shoved open the front door with unusual