First Love at School: A Year Ten Story
Emily fell in love during her school days, back in Year Ten. There was a boy in her classThomaswho shed always fancied, but after the summer holidays, he came back changed, like a prince. When he sat beside her on the first day of term, she felt like she was walking on air.
Shed changed too. Gone was the girl from last year; in her place stood a young woman with a slender waist and graceful legs. Her hair, tied back in a neat bun, revealed the delicate curve of her neck.
Thomas eyed her critically and decided he wouldnt be embarrassed to sit next to her. She was bright, after allsomeone he could copy homework from if needed. Emily was kind-hearted, gentle.
But schoolyard friendship soon grew into something deeperfirst love, passionate and all-consuming, arriving at the worst possible time.
GCSEs loomed ahead, demanding hours of study. Yet Thomas and Emily wandered together after school, stealing kisses on park benches, skating hand in hand on frozen ponds in winter.
Thomass parents disapproved. Their son was meant for Sandhurst, not distractions. Early love never led anywhere good. Thomas needed to focus on his future, and Emilywell, her family wasnt exactly the sort they approved of.
Thats what his father told him, anyway. His mother, though softer, agreed in the end.
Emily lived with her gran. Her mother had died when she was fivea car crash. On her birth certificate, the space for her fathers name was just a thick black line.
*”And what on earth do you see in him?”* her gran muttered once, frowning. Then, as if answering herself, *”Ah her mother.”*
Whenever Emilys mother came up in conversation, it stopped short. Her gran would press her lips tight, staring into the distance, lost in memories before sighing quietly.
Meanwhile, Emily rushed off to meet Thomas. Rarely a day passed without them seeing each other after school. Grades slipped. Teachers grew concerned. Thomass parents tightened their grip, issuing an ultimatumno more seeing the girl until he was older, at least until he finished school.
Thomas smiled bitterly. He didnt want to end things with Emily. Theyd been closecloser than ever before. This new feeling had taken hold of him. But serious commitment? Unthinkable. His parents stance was clear.
When Emily realised she was pregnant three months after theyd been intimate, despair swallowed her. Exams loomed, birds sang outside, streams babbledyet she cried into her pillow at night, careful not to wake her gran. But her gran, noticing the change in her, guessed the truth.
Now, Emily only saw Thomas at school. His father had shut down any contact between them. If they knew
One evening, her gran sat on the edge of her bed and asked quietly,
*”Are you keeping it? Dont lie to me. Ive been through this once before with your mother.”* The old woman perched on the bed and wept silently. Emily clung to her, pressing her face into her grans thin shoulder.
*”What do I do, Gran?”* she whispered. *”His parents are completely against it. But they dont know.”*
*”Does he?”*
*”No. I cant bring myself to tell him. Im afraid hell”* For the first time, Emily voiced the fear she couldnt even think.
*”Hes already as good as left you,”* her gran said, confirming her fears. *”But you have to tell him. Its your duty. If he runs after that, then hes no man at all. You wont miss him. Hold your head high. Well manage. Ill go back to work.”*
*”Gran, noyoure retired!”*
*”A cleaner, for the council. Why not? Ive held a mop before, I can do it again. What else? I wont let you down, love.”*
Emily sobbed openly now, her gran joining her. But soon, the old woman straightened up.
*”Enough crying. No time for that now. Sleep.”* She stood, firm. *”Just promise me one thingyoull finish school. No matter what.”*
Emily steadied herself. Shed tell Thomas at the first chance. She knew he wouldnt be happybut she was ready. Inside her, something small stirred, something she already loved. What did his rejection matter? Soon, shed be a motherwasnt that happiness enough?
Thomas sat on the other side of the classroom now. Whispers spread about their splitsome blamed Emily, some blamed Thomas, but all agreed: school first, then careers, then family. Love? No one spoke of that. No one guessed what Emily felt. Unless youd lived it, you couldnt understand.
She told Thomas the next day, in the alley behind school. He went pale, staggered as if struck, then turned and walked away without a word. Emily stood there, waitingcertain hed turn back, run to her, hold her like before.
But Thomas kept walking, as if fleeing a nightmare, desperate to escape.
Emily finished school. She took a job in the canteen where her gran had worked before retiring. That autumn, she left for maternity leave. Despite her youth, she delivered a healthy baby boy.
Her gran worked as a cleaner on a small pension. Once the boyLiamwas old enough, Emily left him at nursery and returned to the canteen. Life had to go on. *”Single mum.”* Thats what they called her behind her back. But at work, they loved herfor her kindness, her diligence, her quiet strength.
Soon, she completed a catering course and became a cook. She had a gifther dishes were praised, her pastries sought after. Customers begged for her recipes.
One day, a new lad startedDaniel, fresh from culinary school. After three months working beside Emily, he fell for her and proposed. She didnt say yes straight away.
She didnt hide being a single mother. Daniel didnt carehe adored little Liam. Hed wait for her after shifts with flowers and toys, scooping the boy up without a care for onlookers. The three of them strolled in the park while her gran watched from the window, whispering prayers, crossing them as they left.
*”Emily, love,”* her gran said one evening, *”this time, its not too soon.”*
Emily smiled. *”Gran, Im grown now. Ive learned my lesson. But I dont regret a thing. How can I be a single mum when Ive got you, and Liam, and now Daniel?”*
The two women held each other and criedthis time, from happiness.
They married a month later in the canteen, surrounded by coworkers, her grans friends, and Daniels family.
Daniel adopted little Liam. Emily was no longer alone. She was loved, cherishedhappier than shed ever dreamed.
