A Hurdle on the Path to Happiness
Amelia had broken up with the guy she once thought she’d built so much with. They were called James and Amelia. They’d been together nearly two years, even moved in together. But the longer they shared that space, the clearer it became—no, she couldn’t walk through life with this man. He irritated her to the core: his laziness, the flat always a mess, endless excuses about work, forever sprawled on the sofa scrolling his phone.
That evening, after an exhausting shift at the hospital, Amelia made up her mind—enough. The flat was chaos, as usual. James, unshaven, in a stretched-out T-shirt, was mindlessly flicking through his social media feed.
“James, pack your things. We’re done,” she said, no hint of doubt in her voice.
“Have you lost it? What’s the problem now?!” he snapped, jumping up.
“Everything’s the problem. I’m done carrying you. Leave.”
“You’ll regret this. Where am I supposed to go at this hour?”
“Your parents’, anywhere. But you’re not staying here.”
He slammed the door, muttering she’d regret it. But Amelia didn’t flinch. “Every closed door is a chance to open a new one,” someone’s words echoed in her mind. She sank onto the sofa with relief and, for the first time in ages, felt light.
Her parents, especially her mum, were thrilled.
“Finally, you kicked that layabout out. You’re twenty-seven—time to think about settling down,” her mum, Margaret, lectured.
Amelia knew it already. She worked as a nurse in the A&E. No cushy job—every day, people came in critical conditions. Some shifts left her too exhausted to lift her arms, and at home? More chores: dinner, cleaning, James’ complaining.
After the breakup, life was simpler: takeaway kebabs, a shower, sleep. No nagging, no drama.
Months later, Daniel walked into her life. He’d brought a mate to the hospital after a car accident and instantly noticed Amelia—her gaze stuck with him. He tried striking up a conversation but failed. So, the next morning, he waited for her outside the hospital. Tall, fair-haired, a warm smile—she liked him straight away.
Things moved fast from there. He turned out to be thoughtful, honest, a good listener. Helped his dad run a logistics business, always made time for her.
After a couple of months, Amelia told her parents about Daniel. Margaret stiffened, her face tightening.
“Hello, come in,” she said coldly when he arrived.
Over dinner, her dad tried chatting while her mum barely spoke. Daniel felt awkward; Amelia, confused.
Later, she learnt the truth: Daniel’s mum was Alice, Margaret’s old school friend who’d once stolen her boyfriend. Margaret had never forgiven her. Married, with Amelia, she still believed her life could’ve been better. Seeing her rival’s son, she couldn’t hide her disgust.
“It’s him or me,” Margaret declared.
But Amelia chose love. She told Daniel everything. He just shrugged.
“We’re not responsible for our parents’ past. We live here and now.”
He admitted to his mum who Amelia was. Alice only smiled.
“You’ve got your own lives. I hold no grudges. Live and be happy.”
They got married. Both parents attended but kept to opposite sides of the room. Margaret never smiled all evening. Alice, though, was genuinely happy.
Months passed. Amelia and Daniel lived together, visited both families. But silence still hung between the parents.
“Maybe a grandkid will break the ice,” Daniel said hopefully.
For now, they were happy just the two of them. And only recently, they found out—soon, their home would be filled with a baby’s laughter.
