Broken by Hope: The Road to a New Beginning
“Emma, it’s over between us,” said Thomas with an icy tone. “I want a real familychildren. You can’t give me that. I’ve filed for divorce. You have three days to collect your things. If you leave, let me know. I’ll stay at my mum’s until the flat is ready for the baby and his mother. Yes, dont look surprisedmy new girlfriend is pregnant. Three days, Emma!”
Emma stood in silence, feeling the ground vanish beneath her feet. What could she say? For five years, they had tried for a child, but three pregnancies ended in heartbreak. The doctors assured her she was healthy, yet each time, something went wrong. Emma lived carefully, even more so while expecting. The last time, she fainted at work, and the ambulance arrived too late
The door slammed shut behind Thomas, and Emma, drained, collapsed onto the sofa. She had no strength to pack. Where could she go? Before marriage, shed lived with her aunt, but she had passed, and the flat was sold by her cousin. Return to the village of Ashford, to her grandmothers house? Rent somewhere? And her job? Questions swirled in her mind, but time slipped away.
In the morning, the door opened, and her mother-in-law, Margaret, stepped in.
“Not asleep? Good,” she said sharply. “Ive come to make sure you dont take anything that isnt yours.”
“I dont plan on stealing your sons old socks,” Emma frowned. “Would you like to count my belongings?”
“How rude youve become! You were so meek before. I told Thomas after the first pregnancy youd never be able to carry a child.”
“Is that why youre here? Then be quiet and watch.”
“Why are you taking the tea set?” Margaret snapped.
“Its minefrom my aunt. A keepsake.”
“Itll look empty here without it!”
“Not my problem. At least youll have a grandchild.”
“Take only whats yours!”
“The laptop, the coffee maker, and the microwave were gifts from colleagues. The car was mine before the wedding. Your son has his own.”
“You have everything you need, yet you cant have children!”
“Thats none of your business. Maybe its just how things were meant to be.”
“Arent you sorry? Perhaps you did it on purpose?”
“Dont talk nonsense. I cant even think about it without pain.”
Emma glanced aroundher things were vanishing. Her brush, makeup, slippers Had she forgotten something important? Margarets presence grated on her. Then she rememberedthe little porcelain cat, a memento from her grandmother. Inside was a hidden compartment with earrings and a ringnot valuable, but precious. Thomas had called it rubbish. Had he thrown it out? She stepped onto the balcony.
“What are you doing out there?” Margarets voice rang out. “Hurry up, take your things and go!”
She found the cat, untouched. Now she could leave.
“Here are the keys. Goodbye. I hope we never meet again.”
Emma went to the office. She was on sick leave but asked for holiday.
“Were here for you,” her boss said. “But its tough without you. Will three weeks be enough? Stay in”
Emma closed her eyes and felt Olivers hand gently squeeze hers, knowing that after so much pain, her new life had only just begun.
