**Diary Entry**
Natalie paced around her small flat in Manchester, clutching her phone as yet another overdue payment notification flashed on the screen. Her chest tightened with anxiety—how would she provide for her family when her eldest daughter and son-in-law had become such a heavy burden? It all started when Emily, just nineteen, announced she was expecting a baby and planning to marry.
Natalie had always confided in her colleague, Margaret, a wise and kind woman who’d raised two daughters alone: nineteen-year-old Emily and ten-year-old Lucy. Until recently, Margaret never had reason to complain. Emily studied diligently at university while Lucy shone in school—both were well-behaved, and Margaret took pride in them despite the struggles of single motherhood.
But in her second year, Emily met Jack—her first love. Though he wasn’t from the area, Margaret approved after meeting him. He seemed decent, sincere, not some fly-by-night. Soon, the couple decided to move in together. To save money, they settled at Margaret’s. She objected—Emily was too young, still in uni, not yet standing on her own two feet—but there was no alternative.
Margaret’s three-bedroom flat was cramped as it was; adding a soon-to-be son-in-law only made things worse. She bit her tongue—until Emily admitted the real reason for their rush: she was pregnant, and they wanted to marry. Margaret felt the ground give way beneath her. Her daughter, barely an adult, was already becoming a mother.
Jack didn’t work. Like Emily, he was a full-time student, and neither considered switching to part-time study. Yet they planned a lavish wedding—like something out of a rom-com. They booked Manchester’s priciest restaurant, invited half the city, and Emily insisted on a designer dress fit for a runway. Margaret protested, explaining she couldn’t afford it, but Emily clutched her stomach and cried:
“Mum, you’d really skimp on your own grandchild?”
Gritting her teeth, Margaret paid for everything. She drained her rainy-day savings and took out another loan, hoping the newlyweds would grow up afterward—find jobs, move out. But her hopes crumbled like a house of cards. Emily and Jack stayed put, showing no interest in earning a penny.
Jack’s parents gifted them a second-hand car for the wedding. Now the couple cruised around town like they were on holiday—fuel paid for by Jack’s parents, who knew he was penniless. But groceries, bills, clothes? All fell to Margaret. The two didn’t even know the price of a loaf of bread. When she brought up expenses, Emily rolled her eyes:
“Mum, we’re studying—where would we get money?”
Emily refused to cut corners. She showed Margaret a catalogue featuring the trendiest, most expensive pram and crib—far beyond her modest salary.
“Emily, I can’t afford this! Your tuition loan, Lucy’s needs—”
“Seriously?” Emily snapped. “A grandmother-to-be, and you’re being stingy?”
Margaret’s blood boiled. They chose to have a baby, yet she was meant to foot the bill? She worked herself to the bone, barely scrapping by, while they lived like royalty. The tuition loan loomed over her; Lucy needed attention—yet the young couple acted like life was a fairy tale.
One evening, Margaret snapped. She came home late—delayed by grocery shopping—only to find Emily and Jack laughing over a magazine, picking out a cradle costing half her wages. Lucy sat quietly sketching in the corner while a mountain of dishes towered in the sink.
“Am I meant to clean up after you too?” Margaret barked, slamming her bags down.
“Mum, what’s your problem?” Emily huffed. “We’re busy—we’re expecting!”
“You’re expecting, but I’m paying for everything?” Margaret trembled with rage. “Enough! Either start working, or find somewhere else to live!”
Emily burst into tears, Jack went pale—but Margaret held firm. She gave them a month to find part-time work.
“Fail, and you’ll move in with Jack’s parents. Let them support you.”
They pleaded, but Margaret refused to bend. She loved her daughter, but without boundaries, they’d drown her. One evening, Lucy hugged her tight and whispered:
“Mum, I’d never do that to you.”
Margaret smiled through her tears. For Lucy, she’d keep fighting. As for Emily and Jack? Reality awaited them—and Margaret was done being their safety net.
