La vida

I Know Best — What is going on? — Daniel crouched wearily in front of his daughter, eyeing the pink patches on her cheeks. — Again… Four-year-old Sophie stood in the middle of the room, patient and strangely grown-up. She was used to these examinations, her parents’ worried faces, endless creams and tablets. Maria came over and knelt next to her husband, gently brushing a lock of hair from Sophie’s face. — These medicines aren’t working. At all. It’s like giving her water. And the doctors at the surgery… they’re not doctors, just… who knows what. Third time they’ve changed her treatment plan — no effect. Daniel stood, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Outside, the sky was grey, and the day showed every sign of being as bleak as the last. They packed up quickly — wrapped Sophie in her warm coat, and half an hour later, sat in his mother’s flat. Olga fussed, shook her head, stroked her granddaughter’s back. — So little, and already so much medicine. What a strain on her body, — she sat Sophie on her lap, and the little girl leaned against her, comforted. — It’s awful to see. — We’d love not to give her anything, — Maria perched on the edge of the sofa, fingers clenched. — But the allergy won’t go away. We’ve removed everything. Seriously, everything. She’s only eating the most basic foods — and she’s still covered in a rash. — What do the doctors say? — Nothing concrete. They can’t pinpoint it. More tests, more samples — but the only outcome… — Maria waved her hand. — Just her cheeks. Olga sighed and straightened Sophie’s collar. — Maybe she’ll grow out of it. Children do sometimes. For now, it’s just… not encouraging. Daniel looked at his daughter. Small and thin, her big, watchful eyes. He stroked her head and a memory of his own childhood floated up — sneaking pies that his mum baked on Saturdays, pleading for sweets, scooping jam right out of the jar. And his daughter… Boiled vegetables. Boiled meat. Water. No fruit, no sweets, no normal kid food. Four years old, on a stricter diet than many ulcer patients. — We don’t know what else to cut, — he said quietly. — Her diet is almost nothing. The drive home was silent. Sophie dozed in the back seat, and Daniel kept glancing at her in the mirror. Sleeping at last. At least, not scratching. — Mum called, — Maria spoke up. — She wants us to bring Sophie round next weekend. She’s got tickets for the puppet theatre, wants to take her. — Theatre? — Daniel changed gear. — That’s good. Distraction is good. — That’s what I thought. It’ll do her good. Saturday, Daniel parked up at his mother-in-law’s house and lifted Sophie from her car seat. She blinked sleepily, rubbing her eyes with her fists — early wake-up, still tired. He scooped her up, and she nestled her nose in his neck, warm and light as a sparrow. Patricia drifted out onto the porch in a flowery housecoat, hands outstretched as if greeting a shipwreck survivor. — Oh, my darling girl, my sunshine! — She gathered Sophie to her enormous bosom. — So pale, so thin. You’ve run her ragged with your diets, poor child is suffering. Daniel shoved his hands into his pockets, reining in his irritation. Same old story, every time. — It’s for her own good. Not for fun, believe me. — For her good? — Patricia pursed her lips, glancing at her granddaughter as if returning from a prison camp. — Nothing but skin and bone. She’s supposed to be growing, and you’re starving her! She carried Sophie inside without looking back, and the door clicked shut. Daniel stood on the steps, something nagging at the edge of his mind, just out of reach. He rubbed his forehead, listened to the quiet of the unfamiliar garden, then headed for the car. A childless weekend felt odd, almost forgotten. Saturday, he and Maria wandered the supermarket, pushing a trolley, stocking up for the week. At home, Daniel finally fixed the leaking bathroom tap, Maria cleared out the cupboards and packed old clothes for donation. Everyday chores, but the flat felt wrong, too empty without a child’s voice. That night, they ordered pizza — the kind with mozzarella and basil Sophie wasn’t allowed. Opened a bottle of red wine. Sat in the kitchen talking about nothing much — like they hadn’t done in ages: work, holiday plans, that unfinished home decorating. — It’s nice, — Maria began, then hesitated, biting her lip. — I mean… you know. Just peaceful. Quiet. — I know, — Daniel covered her hand with his. — I miss her too. But a break isn’t unwelcome. On Sunday, he drove to collect Sophie just before dusk. The setting sun bathed the street deep orange; his mother-in-law’s house nestled behind old apple trees, almost inviting in the golden light. Daniel got out, pushed the garden gate — hinges squeaked — and stopped mid-stride. On the porch was his daughter, with Patricia seated beside her, face beaming. In her hand was a pie. Large, golden, oily. And Sophie was eating it. Cheeks messy, crumbs on her chin, and her eyes — shining, happier than he’d seen her in months. Daniel stared for a moment, then heat and anger surged in his chest. He strode forward and snatched the pie from Patricia. — What the hell is this?! Patricia recoiled, blushing crimson from her throat to her hairline. She flapped her hands, trying to ward off his anger. — It’s just a tiny bit! No harm done, it’s just a pie… Daniel wasn’t listening. He scooped Sophie up — she clung to his jacket, frightened and quiet — and carried her to the car. Strapped her in, hands shaking with fury. Sophie watched him with wide eyes, lips trembling — near tears. — It’s alright, sweetheart, — he stroked her head, voice steady as he could manage. — Wait here a moment. Daddy’ll be right back. He shut the door and marched back to the house. Patricia still waited on the porch, fiddling with her robe, splotched with red. — Daniel, you don’t understand… — I don’t understand?! — he stepped closer, temper unleashed. — Six months! Six months we didn’t know what was happening with our daughter! Doctors, hospital visits, allergen tests — do you know how much that all cost? How many sleepless nights? Patricia shrank back. — I just wanted to help… — Help?! — Daniel stepped in. — She lived off water and boiled chicken! We cut everything out! And you sneak her fried pies?! — I was building up her immunity! — Patricia suddenly squared up. — I gave her tiny bits so she’d get used to it. Another week or two and she would’ve been fine, thanks to me! I know what I’m doing, I raised three children! Daniel stared at her, not recognising this person. The woman he tolerated for years, to keep peace for his wife — poisoning his child, believing she knew better than doctors. — Three children, — he said quietly, watching Patricia pale. — So what? Every child is different. And Sophie isn’t yours, she’s mine. You won’t see her again. — What?! — Patricia clutched the rail. — You can’t do that! — I can. He turned and walked to the car. Her shouts echoed behind him, but Daniel didn’t look back. Started the engine, saw her waving in the mirror, pressed the pedal. At home, Maria was waiting in the hall. One look at her husband’s face, their tearful child, and she understood instantly. — What happened? Daniel told her. Brief, guarded. Emotionless — he’d left that behind in Patricia’s garden. Maria listened, her face hardening every second. Then she grabbed her phone. — Mum. Yes, Daniel told me. How could you?! Daniel took Sophie to the bathroom — washed off the pie and tears. Behind the door, Maria’s angry, unfamiliar voice rang out; he’d never heard her speak to her mother that way. At the end: “Until we sort out her allergy — you’re not seeing Sophie.” Two months later… Sunday lunch at Olga’s was now a tradition. On the table: sponge cake with cream and strawberries. Sophie tucked in with a big spoon, smearing cream over her cheeks. Not a spot in sight. — Who’d have guessed, — Olga shook her head. — Sunflower oil. Such a rare allergy. — Doctor said one in a thousand kids, — Maria spread butter on her bread. — Swapped to olive oil, rash gone in two weeks. Daniel watched his daughter, couldn’t look away. Pink cheeks, bright eyes, cream on her nose. A happy child, eating proper food at last. Cake, biscuits, all the treats — as long as sunflower oil was avoided. Relations with Patricia stayed chilly. She rang, apologised, cried. Maria kept her replies short and dry. Daniel didn’t speak to her at all. Sophie reached for more cake, Olga pushed the plate nearer. — Go on, love. Eat up, enjoy. Daniel leaned back in his chair. Rain drummed on the window, but indoors was warm and fragrant with baking. His daughter was better; nothing else mattered.

I know best What is it this time Daniel slumped down to his haunches in front of his daughter, staring

La vida

013

My Husband Invited His Ex-Wife and Their Children to Our Holiday Celebration, So I Packed My Bags and Spent New Year’s Eve with My Best Friend

Tell me youre joking, Oliver. Please dont tell me youre being serious. Or maybe I misheard because of

La vida

063

My Sister Megan Left for a Three-Day Work Trip, So I Was Responsible for My Five-Year-Old Niece Lily—Everything Seemed Fine Until Dinner, When She Stared at Her Beef Stew and Whispered, “Am I Allowed to Eat Today?” I Assured Her She Could, and She Broke Down in Tears—That’s When I Discovered the Heartbreaking Truth Behind Her Questions and Faced an Impossible Dilemma: Should I Confront My Sister, Seek Help, or Build Lily’s Trust and Document What’s Happening First? What Would You Do?

My sister Amelia left on a business trip many years ago, and I was tasked with looking after her five-year-old

La vida

My Ex Turned Up One Saturday Afternoon with a Huge Bouquet, Chocolates, a Bag Full of Gifts, and That Smile I Hadn’t Seen in Months—At First, I Thought He’d Come to Apologise or Finally Clear the Air Between Us After His Months of Cold Silence, But His Sudden Sweetness Hid a Very Different Agenda Involving a Business Loan, My Signature, and the Fastest “Reunion” Breakup You Can Imagine

My ex showed up one Saturday afternoon, clutching an enormous bouquet of roses, fancy chocolates, a bag

La vida

012

The Day Nana Married the 67-Year-Old Son of the Man Who Left Her at the Altar

The day Grandma married the son of the man who left her at the altar. My grandmother is 89, and shes

La vida

It Took Me Fifteen Years to Realise My Marriage Was Like That January Gym Membership—Full of Good Intentions at First, Then Empty for the Rest of the Year

It took me a decade and a half to realise that my marriage was much like those gym memberships everyone

La vida

On the Edge of This Summer Working at the library, Dana considered her life dull—there were few visitors these days, as everyone was online. She often rearranged books on the shelves, dusting them off, but the highlight of her job was reading countless books of every genre: romance, philosophy… And by thirty, she realized that romance had somehow passed her by. At her age, she should probably start a family, but she wasn’t striking in appearance, her job paid little. It had never really crossed her mind to change her job, since she was content. The library mainly saw students, and occasionally schoolchildren or pensioners. Recently, a professional competition was held at the county level and, to her own astonishment, Dana won the grand prize—a fully paid two-week holiday by the seaside. “That’s fantastic. I’ll definitely go,” she cheerfully told her friend and mother. “On my salary I’d never get this far—this is happiness handed to me!” Summer was drawing to a close. Dana walked along the deserted beach; most holidaymakers were at cafes, since today the sea was especially rough. It was her third day at the seaside, and she wanted to stroll the shoreline alone, think, and dream. Suddenly, she saw a young man swept off the pier by a wave. Without a thought for herself, she rushed to help—it was close to shore, and though not a strong swimmer, she could manage in the water. The waves helped her pull the boy, holding him by the collar, until she finally managed to stand waist-deep on solid ground. One idea filled her mind: stay on her feet. She finally managed it. Standing there in her lovely dress, now clinging to her body, she looked at the boy in surprise. “He’s only fourteen, maybe a bit older, just tall and a little taller than me,” she thought and asked, “What were you thinking, swimming in this weather?” The boy got up, thanked her, and, swaying a little, walked off. Dana just shrugged and watched him go. The next morning, she woke with a smile—the weather was stunning, the sun shining bright, the sea sparkling blue and calm, apologising for yesterday’s roughness. After breakfast, she wandered down to the beach, basked in the sun, and later headed for a walk in the park. There, spotting a shooting range, she remembered her sharp aim from school and university. The first shot missed, but the second hit the target. “See, son, that’s how you shoot!” came a man’s voice behind her. She turned, surprised to see the boy from yesterday. The boy’s eyes flashed with fear—he recognised Dana—and she realised his father had no idea his son had nearly drowned. She smiled slightly. “Perhaps you can give us a lesson?” suggested the tall, friendly-looking man. “Zhenya here can’t shoot, and sadly, neither can I,” he added with a warm smile. Afterwards, they wandered together, enjoyed ice cream at a café, and rode the Ferris wheel. Dana half expected Zhenya’s mother to join them soon, but both father and son seemed content and were expecting no one. The boy’s father, introducing himself as Anton, was a fascinating conversationalist, intelligent, and with every passing minute Dana found herself ever more drawn to him. “Dana, have you been here long?” “No, just started my first week—I’ve got another left.” “And where are you from, if you don’t mind me asking?” As it turned out, father and son were from the same town as Dana. All three laughed. “Funny, isn’t it? We never met at home, but here—even by chance,” Anton smiled warmly, clearly taken by the charming, composed woman beside him. Zhenya, now at ease, chatted freely—realising Dana wouldn’t tell his dad about the previous day’s mishap. They parted late, Anton and Zhenya seeing Dana to her hotel, promising to meet the next morning. Dana arrived at the beach first; her new friends were nearly an hour late. “Morning!” came Anton’s familiar voice. “Forgive us, Dana, we totally forgot to set the alarm and overslept!” he laughed apologetically, settling beside her. “Dad, I’m going swimming,” said Zhenya, heading toward the water. But Dana shouted, “Wait! You can’t swim!” Anton looked surprised. “Of course he can, he does competitions at school,” he replied. Dana fell silent. Surely, he couldn’t swim? Perhaps she’d been mistaken. They all stayed in a neighbouring hotel. The next days were magical. They met every morning at the beach, parted late, went on sightseeing trips. Dana longed to talk with Zhenya alone—she felt he had something weighing on his mind. In fact, she learned father and son lodged in the neighbouring hotel. The chance soon came. One morning, only Zhenya appeared. “Hi. Dad’s got a fever,” he said, “but I asked if I could come—I told him you’d keep an eye on me,” he smiled. “Sorry I decided that, but I just didn’t want to sit cooped up.” “Zhenya, can I get your dad’s number to call and check on him?” He dictated it. “Hello?” answered Anton, “Maybe not a ‘good’ morning, feeling rough with a fever. Please look after my boy—he’s promised to do everything you ask…” “Don’t worry, just get well. He’s nearly grown and very sensible. I’ll look in later to check on you,” Dana assured him. After a swim, Zhenya sprawled on a sunbed beside Dana and said, “You know, you’re a real friend.” She looked at him, he smiled. “What makes you say that?” “Thanks for not telling Dad about what happened,” Zhenya said, blushing. “I was swept off the pier by a wave, and I panicked for a moment.” “You’re welcome,” Dana smiled, and after a pause, asked, “Zhenya, where’s your mum? Why are you here with just your dad?” Zhenya hesitated, thinking, but then seemed to decide he was grown up enough. Anton’s job sometimes took him away on business trips—Zhenya would stay with his mum, Marina. To everyone else, they looked like a happy family. But as it turned out, it was just an act—because of Marina. One day Anton told his wife, “I’m being sent to London for three weeks for training—afterwards, my boss hinted at a promotion and a pay raise…” His wife seemed pleased. While he was gone, Marina told Zhenya, “We’re having guests—my colleague Arthur and his daughter Kira. Arthur and I need to work on some plans, so you need to entertain Kira. She’s a couple years older than you.” Kira was lively, decisive. Soon, she suggested, “Let’s hang out in the park or something…” Marina agreed and handed her son twenty pounds. “Treat her to an ice cream!” The days passed. With Kira, Zhenya found new experiences—she was older, wise beyond her years. Before his father returned, Kira said, “Well, little man, lucky your dad’s finally coming back. Frankly, I’m tired of keeping you busy—it’s only to keep you out of the way while our parents have fun.” Zhenya was disgusted; still, he could no longer ignore the truth. Back home, he saw his mother’s coldness to his father. The family was on the verge of breaking. He considered whether to tell his dad. Soon enough, he overheard his parents argue. “Yes, I’ve been cheating. So what?” he heard his mother shout as he entered from training. “Nothing. I’ll just file for divorce. You don’t care for our son, so he’ll stay with me…,” said his father. “Fine,” his mother replied, “I’ll have another family.” Hearing the door slam as she left, Zhenya was certain—he wanted to stay with his dad. When Anton tried explaining everything, Zhenya said, “No need. I already know. I love you, and I think we’ll be better off alone.” “You’re a grown-up now,” his father ruffled his hair. “Stay in touch with your mum if you wish—she’s left me, not you.” But Zhenya wasn’t ready to forgive. After the beach, Dana and Zhenya brought fruit to Anton, now feeling better. He promised they’d be at the beach the next day. Three days later, father and son had to go home, but Dana still had two days left. Summer was ending. On the edge of that summer, they said goodbye. Anton promised to meet Dana at the airport; Zhenya smiled. Dana made no plans, just happily reread Anton’s affectionate messages, as he confessed he missed her already and looked forward to her return. Soon, Dana moved into Anton and Zhenya’s flat—perhaps most delighted of all was Zhenya, happy for his father, for himself, and for Dana.

At the Edge of This Summer Working quietly away in a sleepy village library, Diana sometimes felt her

La vida

I Never Imagined That Five Minutes of Waiting Could Change My Life—But That’s Exactly What Happened to Me

Ive never imagined that waiting just five minutes could change my life. But thats exactly what happens.

La vida

011

“Whose Girl Are You, Love?.. Let Me Carry You Home to Warm Up — I Lifted Her in My Arms, Brought Her to My Cottage, and the Village Was Ablaze With Gossip: ‘Goodness, Anna, Where Did You Find Her?’ ‘What Will You Do With That Child?’ ‘Anna, Have You Lost Your Mind? How Will You Feed Her?’ The Floor Creaked Underfoot — Again I Remind Myself I Should Fix It, But Never Find the Time. Settling at My Table, I Opened My Faded Diary: Pages Yellowed Like Autumn Leaves, Yet Its Ink Preserved My Thoughts. Outside, the wind howls and a birch tree taps the window, begging to be let in. ‘Why All The Fuss?’ I Ask It. ‘Just Wait — Spring Will Come Soon Enough.’ It’s Funny to Talk to a Tree, I Know, But When You Live Alone, Everything Feels Alive. The war left me a widow — my dear Stephen gone, his last letter still folded tight and worn with rereading. He promised to return, promised love, promised happiness… A week later, I learned the truth. God did not grant me children—perhaps merciful, as there was little to feed them in those harsh years. The farm boss, Mr. Nicholas Evans, tried to comfort me: ‘Don’t worry, Anna. You’re young yet, you’ll marry again.’ ‘I won’t remarry,’ I always replied. ‘I’ve loved once, that’s enough.’ The day begins at sunrise and ends at sunset at the farm. The foreman, Mr. Peterson, often shouts: ‘Anna Evans, go home already! It’s getting late!’ ‘I’ll manage,’ I reply. ‘As long as my hands work, my soul stays young.’ My little farm: stubborn nanny goat Maggie and five hens that woke me better than any rooster. My neighbour, Claudia, liked to tease: ‘You’re not a turkey, are you? Why do your hens crow before the others?’ I kept a garden — potatoes, carrots, beets. All from my own soil. Each autumn, I’d jar pickles, tomatoes, mushrooms — winter’s jar cracked open brought summer right back to my kitchen. I recall that day vividly: March, damp and cold. Morning drizzle turned to an evening freeze. Off to the woods for kindling, I gathered an armful. Passing the old bridge, I heard crying. At first, I thought it was just the wind, but no — clear, childlike sobs. Beneath the bridge I found a little girl, caked in mud, soaked and ragged, terrified eyes wide and silent. She froze at seeing me, shivering like a leaf. ‘Whose girl are you?’ I whispered, not to frighten her. She didn’t answer, just blinked. Blue lips, swollen red hands. ‘You’re freezing,’ I murmured. ‘Let me carry you home and warm you up.’ Tiny and featherlight, I wrapped her in my scarf, pressed her to my chest, wondering — what sort of mother leaves a child under a bridge? Couldn’t comprehend it. I left the kindling behind, the child more urgent. All the way home she clung tight and quiet. At the cottage, neighbours gathered — news travels fast in English villages. Claudia arrived first: ‘Good grief, Anna! Where did she come from?’ ‘Found her under the bridge — abandoned, so it seems.’ ‘Oh, dear… What’ll you do with her?’ ‘I’ll keep her.’ ‘Anna, you’ve surely lost your mind! How will you feed a child?’ ‘I’ll feed her with what God provides,’ I retorted. First, I stoked the fire hotter than ever and heated water. The poor girl was all bruises, ribs sticking out. I bathed her gently, dressed her in my old jumper — nothing else fit. ‘Are you hungry?’ I asked. She nodded, shy. Yesterday’s soup and a slice of bread — she ate hungrily but neatly. Not a street child, I reckoned, but someone’s family. ‘What’s your name?’ She stayed mute, whether fearful or not knowing the words. That night I tucked her in my bed, myself taking the bench. Woke several times to check on her — she slept curled, crying softly in dreams. At dawn, I marched to the parish office — notified Mr. Stephen Jones, the Council Chair: ‘No child’s been reported missing,’ he said. ‘Perhaps someone from town abandoned her…’ ‘What now?’ ‘By law she goes to the children’s home. I’ll call the district today.’ My heart clenched: ‘Wait, Mr. Jones. Give me time — maybe her parents will come. Until then, I’ll care for her.’ ‘Anna Evans, think carefully…’ ‘No need. I’ve decided.’ I named her Mary, after my mother. I kept hoping her family would appear — none ever did. Thankfully; I was already smitten with her. At first, she hardly spoke, only searched the room with her eyes. At night, she woke screaming — I’d hold her, stroke her head: ‘It’s all right, darling. Everything will be fine.’ Out of my old dresses, I stitched her some clothes — dyed them blue, green, red. Simple but cheerful. Claudia clapped when she saw: ‘Anna, you’re a wizard with your hands! I thought your talent stopped at the spade.’ ‘Life makes you a seamstress and a nanny too,’ I replied, secretly proud. But not everyone was so clever — especially old Mrs. Martha, crossing herself at the sight of us: ‘Nothing good comes of this, Anna. To take in a foundling is to call trouble. Must have been a wicked mother — an apple never falls far from the tree…’ ‘Hush, Martha!’ I snapped. ‘Not your place to judge another’s sins. That girl is mine now, and that’s final.’ The farm boss also frowned at first: ‘Why not send her to a proper children’s home, Anna Evans? They’ll feed and dress her well.’ ‘And who will love her?’ I asked. ‘Plenty of orphans in homes already.’ He shrugged, but soon started helping — sending milk, oats. Mary thawed slowly; words came, then sentences. The first time she laughed, I was knocked off my stool hanging curtains. Sat on the floor, groaning, and she burst out with honest, child’s laughter — so bright my pain vanished. In the allotment, she’d “help” — tiny hoe in hand, copying me, mostly trampling weeds into the beds. I never scolded, just pleased to see life spark in her. Then disaster: poor Mary fell sick with fever. Red and raving. I ran to our paramedic, Simon Peterson: ‘Please, you must help!’ ‘Anna, I’ve three aspirin for the whole parish! Maybe some will arrive next week.’ ‘Next week? She might not last till morning!’ Off I trudged nine muddy miles to the hospital. Shoes battered, feet blistered, but I made it. The young doctor, Alex Mitchell, took one look at wet, filthy me: ‘Wait here.’ He returned with medicine, explained the dosages: ‘You don’t owe me, just nurse her back to health.’ For three days I didn’t leave her side. Whispered every prayer I knew. Changed compresses round the clock. On the fourth day, the fever broke: ‘Mum… water.’ Mum — her first word for me. I wept for happiness, for exhaustion, for everything at once. She wiped my tears with her little hand: ‘Mum, why are you crying?’ ‘Not pain, darling — joy.’ Afterwards she blossomed — chatty, cheerful. Soon school beckoned; her teacher couldn’t praise her enough: ‘Such a quick learner!’ Village folk warmed in time, stopped whispering. Even Mrs. Martha softened — shared pies, especially after Mary helped her light the fire during a nasty cold snap. Martha, laid up with arthritis, no wood chopped. Mary offered: ‘Mum, should we check on Mrs. Martha? She must be freezing alone.’ They became friends — the old grump and my girl. Martha shared stories, taught knitting, never again speaking of foundlings or bad blood. Years passed. At nine, Mary began asking about the bridge. One evening while I darned socks and she cradled her homemade doll: ‘Mum, remember when you found me?’ My heart skipped, but I nodded: ‘I remember, darling.’ ‘I remember a bit too. It was cold. I was scared. There was a woman crying, and then she left.’ My needles dropped. She continued: ‘I don’t remember her face, just a blue scarf. She kept saying “Please forgive me…”’ ‘Mary…’ ‘Don’t fret, Mum, I’m not sad. I just remember sometimes. You know what? I’m glad you found me that day.’ I hugged her tight, throat knotted. So many times I wondered — who was that woman in blue? What drove her to leave a child under that bridge? Starvation? Cruelty? Not for me to judge. That night sleep would not come. I thought: life seems so empty, so unfair, until the moment it prepares us for what matters — to warm a lost child. Often, Mary would ask about her past. I held nothing from her, always gentle: ‘Sometimes people are driven to desperate choices, darling. Maybe your mother suffered terribly.’ ‘You’d never do that?’ she would ask, searching my eyes. ‘Never. You are my joy, my blessing.’ Years raced on. Mary shone at school, rushed home: ‘Mum! Mum! Today I recited a poem at the board, and Miss Jane said I have talent!’ Her teacher, Miss Jane Williams, often said: ‘Anna Evans, that girl ought to go further. Gifted, especially with words. You’d be amazed at her stories.’ ‘How? We’ve got no money…’ ‘I’ll tutor her for free. Can’t bury that kind of gift.’ Miss Williams coached her in our cottage. I brought tea with raspberry jam, listened in as they debated Shakespeare, Dickens, Eliot — my heart swelling. At sixteen, Mary fell for a new lad who’d moved to the village. Wrote poems in a notebook, hidden under her pillow. I played innocent, knowing all too well — first love, tender but bittersweet. After school, she applied to teacher training college. Gave her all my savings, even sold our cow — fond Zora, but what could I do? ‘You can’t, Mum!’ protested Mary. ‘How will you manage?’ ‘Potatoes for me, eggs from the hens. You must go.’ When her acceptance letter arrived, the village rejoiced. Even the farm boss came round: ‘Well done, Anna! You raised and educated a daughter. Now we’ll have a student from our village.’ On the day she left, we stood at the bus stop. She hugged me, crying. ‘I’ll write every week, Mum.’ ‘You will,’ I choked, heart breaking. When the bus vanished round the bend, Claudia joined me: ‘Come, Anna. Chores are waiting at home.’ ‘You know, Claudia,’ I said, ‘I’m happy. Others have children by blood; mine was Heaven-sent.’ True to promise, Mary wrote often. Each letter a holiday. I memorised every line — tales of college, friends, the city, but always between the lines, her longing for home. Second year, she met her own David — a history student. He crept into her letters, at first in passing, but I knew. At summer, she brought him home. A solid lad, handy too: fixed the roof, mended the fence, won neighbours over. On the porch he shared stories of history — captivating. Clearly loved my Mary. When Mary visited, the whole village gathered to see the beauty she’d become. Even Mrs. Martha, aged and slow, crossed herself: ‘Dear me! I was so wrong when you brought her home. Forgive me, foolish old woman. Look at this joy!’ Mary became a teacher herself, at city school now. She’s married to David, happy as can be. They’ve given me a granddaughter — Annabella, named for me. Annabella — the spit of Mary at that age, only bolder. When they visit, not a moment’s peace. Wild with curiosity, always exploring. Brings life to the house — without a child’s laughter, a home is silent as a church without bells. I sit, writing in my diary again, while the wind howls outside. Still the floor creaks, still the birch taps, but the quiet is peaceful now — gratitude for every smile from Mary, for fate guiding me to the old bridge that day. On my table: a photo of Mary, David, little Annabella. Beside it, my tattered scarf, the one I wrapped her in all those years ago. I keep it safe — sometimes I lay it out, stroke it, and the warmth of those distant days floods back. Yesterday a letter arrived: Mary’s expecting again. A boy! David’s picked the name Stephen, for my late husband. The family line goes on — someone will remember. The old bridge is long gone, replaced by sturdy concrete. I rarely pass that way now, but I always pause, remembering: how one day, one chance, one child’s cry on a damp March night… changed everything. They say fate tests us with loneliness, so we cherish those we love. I believe something else — life prepares us to meet those who need us most. Blood means nothing; only the heart’s truth matters. And under that old bridge, my heart did not fail me.”

Whose child are you, little one?.. Let me carry you home, youll get warm. I lifted her in my arms and

La vida

You Just Can’t Get Through to Him: The Story of Anna, a Stepmother Who Tried Everything for Her Husband and His Teenage Son—But Was Left Unseen, Unheard, and Unloved in Someone Else’s Home

You cant tell me what to do! Youre not my mum! Edward flung the plate into the sink, sending water and