“Dad, I’ll eat so littleplease dont send me to the orphanage,” the little girl begged, wiping her tears with trembling hands.
In a quiet village where the streets were lined with cobblestones and the cottages stood snugly together, there lived an ordinary family. Edward and Margaret had seen their share of lifes hardships. They werent wealthy, but they managedjust enough to put food on the table for their three children. Their days were filled with tending the garden, caring for the children, and household chores. Life seemed settled, almost complete. Until everything changed.
Margaret discovered she was pregnant again.
Edward was a practical man, cautious with every penny. The thought of another mouth to feed when they could barely scrape by seemed absurd.
“Margaret, have you lost your mind? You’re forty-three! We can hardly manage as it is, and now” He struggled to find the words, his voice thick with frustration.
But Margaret wouldnt be swayed. She felt this child was meant to be, a conviction deeper than reason.
When Emily was born, Edward didnt even go to the hospital to meet them. The birth of his youngest daughter barely registered in his life. When they came home, the house looked the sameexcept now there was another little girl, easily overlooked among the bustle of the family.
“Edward, look how beautiful she is!” Margaret cradled the newborn, but his eyes remained cold.
Emily grew up in the shadow of her siblings and her fathers indifference. Her brother and sisters barely noticed her. Margaret tried to give her love, but her strength wasnt endless. Often, Emily sat alone, lost in her thoughts, wondering why her fatherthe man she so desperately wanted to pleasenever looked her way.
She dreamed that if she did something special, he might finally see her. Even at six, she hoped hed play with her or even speak to her. Shed watch him laugh with the others, but his eyes always slid past her.
“Dad, lookI picked these berries for you!” she once called, running to him with a basket of strawberries.
Edward barely glanced at her. “Put them on the table. Im busy.”
One day, when Emily turned six, she went mushroom hunting with her mother. She gathered her fathers favourites, imagining theyd share a family meal that eveningmaybe then hed notice her.
But fate had other plans. A sudden storm rolled in. Margaret, hurrying home, tripped over a root and fell. Terrified, Emily dropped the basket and ran back.
“Dad, Mums hurt!” she cried, breathless.
Edward sat at the table, slow to react.
“Shes not getting up!” Emily pointed toward the woods, her voice shaking.
The family rushed out, but it was too late. The doctors said Margaret had died instantly, her head striking a tree stump.
From that day, everything changed. Edward, grieving, blamed Emily.
“This is your fault!” he shouted when she cried in the corner. “You killed her!”
Her siblings, siding with their father, demanded she be sent away. Surrounded by hatred, Emilys world crumbled. She couldnt understand why no one loved herwhy all the pain was hers to bear.
“Dad, make her leave! Shes the reason Mums gone,” her eldest sister insisted.
When Edwards mother took Emily in, she felt a flicker of reliefuntil she overheard them talking one night.
“Shes not staying here, Mum,” Edward said coldly. “Youre not young enough to raise another child.”
Emily froze outside the door, each word like a knife.
“But shes just a child, like the others. How can you send her to an orphanage?” her grandmother pleaded.
“How am I supposed to feed four?” Edward replied, his voice hollow.
Emily burst in, tears streaming. “Dad, Ill eat so littleplease dont send me away!”
He turned his back as if she hadnt spoken.
The orphanage was a harsh adjustment. For years, Emily waited for someone to come for her. But slowly, she realized: no one would. When couples came to adopt, every child ran forwardexcept her. If her own father didnt want her, who would?
Years passed. When she aged out, she returned to her village, hoping for even a shred of acceptance. But reality was crueler.
The moment she stepped inside, her sisters icy voice cut through the air.
“Emily, you dont belong here. Why did you come?”
Emily swallowed hard. “This is my home too.”
Her sister scoffed. “People come back where theyre wanted. No one wants you here.”
Then Edward appeared. His face was blank, as if she were a stranger. Emily took a hopeful step forwardbut he raised a hand, stopping her. Without a word, he turned and walked away.
Heartbroken, Emily left. She visited her mothers grave, tidied it, and whispered as if Margaret could hear. Then she made her choiceshe couldnt stay where she wasnt wanted.
She boarded a train to London.
Sitting on a cold bench in the bustling city, Emily felt invisible. People hurried past, their laughter and chatter fading around her. She clutched a small bagher only belongings. The city felt vast, unwelcoming.
Hours slipped by. She had nowhere to go. Memories flickeredher childhood, her family, the home that was no longer hers. Loneliness settled over her like a weight.
“Miss, are you all right?”
She looked up. A young man stood there, concern in his kind eyes.
The simple question shattered her. Tears spilled over as years of pain rushed out.
“Im fine,” she whispered, but her voice broke.
He didnt leave. “Lets get out of the cold. Theres a café nearby.” He smiled gently. “Im James, by the way.”
“Emily,” she murmured, following him.
Over tea, she told him everything. James listened, then offered her a place to stay. “Mums at home. You can rest, figure things out.”
Ten years later, Emily woke with an uneasy feeling. Life was goodJames, their children, her mother-in-law, whod become like a second mother. But something nagged at her.
“Love, everything all right?” her mother-in-law asked softly.
“I dont know just unsettled,” Emily admitted.
Then the phone rang.
“Emily? Its Sarahyour sister. Dads dying. He wants to see you.” The line went dead.
Emily stood frozen. James, overhearing, squeezed her shoulder. “Well go. Mum can watch the boys.”
The drive was silent. Emilys mind swirledher childhood, her fathers rejection.
When they arrived, Sarah stood in the yard with strangersEmilys brother and other sister. They barely recognized each other.
The moment Emily stepped inside, Sarah snapped, “Dont think youre getting anything from this.”
Emily ignored her.
Edward lay in bed, frail and pale. But when he saw her, his eyes flickered with life.
“You came thank you,” he rasped.
“Dad, what happened?” Emily asked, her heart aching.
“Just old dying,” he whispered. “But listen Im sorry. I cant leave with this guilt. Your mother she visits me in dreams. I loved youI just couldnt show it. I made her think I didnt want you and look what I did.”
Tears spilled down Emilys face. Despite everything, forgiveness had lived in her heart for years.
“Dad, I forgave you long ago. I just wanted to hug you,” she choked out. Jamess hand steadied her.
Edwards recovery was slow, but Emily visited often. Their relationship softened.
On the day he was discharged, he murmured, “I should go home.”
Emily shook her head. “Youre coming with us. The boys need their grandfather.”
The next morning, the house rang with childrens laughter as they begged Edward to teach them to fish.
“Come on, Granddad!” they cheered.
Edward smiledsomething warm stirring in his chest. Emily watched, her heart at peace.
“Emily your mother visited me last night,” he said quietly. “She was smiling.”
She took his hand and smiled back.
Glancing at James and their children, she finally felt whole. Everything had fallen into place.
