**Diary Entry**
*21st March*
“Natalie, I wont be living with your son anymoremake sure he knows that,” said Emily.
“Who do you think youll live with now?” scoffed Natalie. “Whod want a woman with a child? I dont see any princes queuing up at your door.”
Emily packed her daughters things calmly, methodically. Shed already put her own belongings in the bagjust the essentials. The rest could wait.
She folded Sophies warm pyjamas*check*. Shoes*another check*. No tears, no hesitation. One sleepless night had been enough. She and Daniel had to separate.
She heard him come home late. He peered into the bedroom, then nudged open Sophies door. Emily pretended to sleep.
In the morning, before work, Daniel hovered outside Sophies room, shifting awkwardly. He didnt dare go inpostponing the conversation for later.
But thered be no conversation. In half an hour, Emily would call a cab and leave with two-year-old Sophie for her parents house.
After last night, she never wanted to see Daniel again.
Shed grown used to him stumbling home drunk on Fridays. But yesterday was Wednesday. Worse, shed asked him to come home earlyjust to watch Sophie while she met her friend Lucy about a remote job.
She couldnt leave Sophie with him like that. She rang Lucy to cancel. Daniel didnt like that.
“Who are you calling? What meeting?” he snapped.
“Just Lucy. I cant leave Sophie with you like this.”
“Why not?”
“Look at yourself. Youre a mess. Go sleep it off.” She turned toward the kitchen.
“Stop!” He grabbed her wrist. “Whats wrong with me, huh? Had a few drinks with the ladsits Daves birthday. Big deal, *princess*! I decide when I come home!”
She yanked free. He staggered, nearly fell.
“Oh, thats how it is?” His fist struck her nose before she could react.
He looked as shocked as she was. He tried to speak, but Emily walked away, straight to Sophie.
*Princess.* His mother had called her that from the start.
“Twenty-one and still mooching off her parents! Studying! At her age, I already had one child and another on the way.”
“A husband, a house, responsibilitiesand shes playing student? *Princess!* Youll regret this, Danny!”
Her parents hadnt approved either.
“Emily, slow down. Daniels not the last man on earth! Living together? Fine. But marriage? Look at his family first.”
Shed ignored them. Six months in, she knew theyd been right. But leaving? Admitting defeat? Then she fell pregnant.
Sophie changed nothing. To Daniel, housework and childcare were *her* job.
“Other women manage! You must nap all day!”
“You couldnt even pop to Tesco? Order takeaways again?”
“Sophies teethingI cant cook while holding her. Make your own dinner.”
The rose-tinted glasses had shattered long ago. Mum had warned her. Shed almost left several times, but Daniel always promised to change. Shed believed him.
Until last night. One strike, and she was done.
Yes, facing her parents was humiliating. But staying with a man whod raise a hand to her? Unthinkable. Worseletting Sophie grow up seeing it.
Mum spotted the taxi first. “Colin, Emilys here. With bags. Help her.”
Inside, Emily removed her sunglasses. Her left eye was swollen, bruised.
“Daniel did this?” Mum gasped.
Emily nodded.
“Ill sort him out,” Dad growled.
“No,” Emily said softly. “Ill punish him my way. Just help me get Sophies things.”
Dad and Uncle Jack fetched the rest while Dad took her to A&E.
“If you press charges, youll need a forensic report,” Uncle Jack explained.
“Tomorrow,” Dad said.
Daniel came home with flowers and a teddy. The flat was empty.
He called. Her phone was off. He tried her mother.
“Yes, Emilys here. Dont come roundDads fists are itching. Shell file for divorce.”
He kept calling. Loomed outside their house. But Emily ignored him.
A week later, divorce papers arrived. Then came the heavy artillery: Natalie at the gate.
“Mum, I wont speak to her,” Emily said.
“We should settle this,” Mum said. “Not insideSophies napping.”
“Divorcing over one slap?” Natalie sneered. “You provoked him! Men drinkdont nag! Now youll leave my grandson fatherless?”
“Natalie, Im done with your son.”
“Wholl take you now? No princes here.”
“Ill manage.”
“Dont expect his flat or maintenance!”
“I dont want his flat. But I *will* get child support.”
She did. The court ruled fastmedical evidence helped. Daniel paid monthly, plus extra until Sophie turned three.
Five years later, Sophies first day of school. Grandparents, Mum, and
“Is Daddy coming?” Sophie asked.
“Hell be here,” Emily said. “Ahthere he is!”
She waved at the tall man searching the crowd.
Not Daniel. Three years ago, shed married Alexandera colleague. Now, they expected their own child.
Daniel? Still single. Plenty of dates, but once things turned serious, someone always mentioned why his first wife left.
Small towns have long memories.
His nickname didnt help: *Punch-Drunk Dan.*
Maybe one day, a woman would overlook it.
But not yet.
Karmas a funny thing. Not everyone believes in itbut it believes in them.
