“Oh, Eleanor, hello! Come to see your mum?” shouted the neighbour from her balcony.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Thompson. Yes, just visiting Mum.”
“You might want to have a word with her,” the woman sighed. “Shes been completely different since the divorce, poor love.”
“What do you mean?” Eleanor tensed.
“Ive been having trouble sleeping, waking up early. Saw her one morning around five, stepping out of a taxi. And she looked well, lets just say, not herself. Maybe even a bit tipsy. The whole streets been whispering. At her age! And why did she throw your father out? Yes, he made a mistake, but who hasnt? All those years togetherseems daft to divorce now.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Thompson,” Eleanor replied, swallowing hard. “Ill talk to her.”
With that, she hurried inside. Her mother had indeed kicked her father out six months ago after catching him cheating. Eleanor had begged her not to rushanything could be mended. But her mother had stood firm. Strangest of all, she hadnt sunk into depression as expectedinstead, she was thriving. New clothes, dancing, nights out with friendsthings shed never done before.
Eleanor struggled to accept it. She was about to get married, planning children. And her motherout clubbing till dawn? What kind of grandmother would she be? How could she introduce her to her future mother-in-law, when one knitted blankets and the other danced in nightclubs?
When she stepped inside, her mother greeted her with a teapot in hand and a bright smile. No worn-out dressing gowninstead, a stylish beige suit. Manicured nails, pedicure, false lashesshe was clearly living.
“So, hows William?” her mother asked, setting down the cups.
“Everythings fine,” Eleanor answered, keeping her tone steady. “But what about you?”
“Brilliant! Last night, the girls and I stayed out till morning. Danced, did karaoke. Such a laugh!”
“Mrs. Thompson told me everything,” Eleanor said darkly. “That you came home at five in the morning and seemed drunk.”
Her mother laughed.
“Well, what did you expect? Sipping tea at a bar?”
Eleanor couldnt hold back.
“Mum, dont you think youre overdoing it?”
“In what way?”
“Well, to put it mildly, youre not twenty anymore. Whats with the dancing and clubs? You should be setting an example. Youre going to be a grandmother!”
“Im a woman whos finally free. I wont live by someone elses script.”
“But you spent years with Dad! How can you just move on like this?”
Her mother paused, then calmly but firmly said,
“Your father betrayed me. Not a mistakea choice. And I wont spend my days being just a housewife anymore. I want to live. For myself. Ive given years to family. Now I do what I want.”
“But youre nearly fifty!”
“So? I dont have to age on schedule.”
Eleanor realised shed gone too far.
“Sorry, I didnt mean to upset you. I just care.”
“If youre ashamed of me, dont invite me to the wedding. But know thisI wont hide my grey hair under a scarf or wear frumpy dresses. Ill dance, maybe even flirt. I feel alive.”
“No, Mum, I want you there. Its just”
“Just Auntie Thompson doesnt approve? Well, I dont care. Im finally living.”
When she got home, she told William everything.
“I dont know how to feel about it.”
William laughed.
“I think your mums brilliant. She didnt wallowshe chose life. No crime in being happy.”
That weekend, Eleanor called her mother.
“Mum, lets go to a spa, then a live music bar?”
“Wont you be embarrassed?”
“Ill tell them youre my older sister,” Eleanor chuckled.
“Deal. But were not leaving early.”
That day changed everything. For the first time, Eleanor saw the strength her mother had. And maybejust maybeshe could learn from her. To live not as she *should*, but as she truly wanted.
