Elizabeth realised her happiness was boundless.
She had decided to spend the weekend visiting her ageing mother and sister in her childhood village. Elizabeth lived in the county town, working as a cardiologist at the local hospital, and rarely found time to escape back to her roots.
At forty-five, Elizabeth was an attractive woman. She had been married long ago and had a daughter who had since graduated, married a university sweetheart, and moved to his hometown. Her own marriage had lasted seven years before they amicably parted ways—they were simply too different.
“Thank goodness for these three days off,” Elizabeth thought cheerfully. “I’ll stop by the supermarket for a few things for Mum and Alice.”
Elizabeth had grown up in the village, dreaming of becoming a doctor and leaving as soon as possible. Honestly, village life had always bored her, despite its hopeful name—”Joyful.” Yet, there was little joy left there now. The place was in decline, its residents scattered for work elsewhere. The young had fled to cities, leaving behind mostly the elderly.
Autumn and winter made the village especially bleak, though spring brought a little light when the fields came to life. The lush greenery and sunshine made “Joyful” feel slightly more fitting.
Now, in mid-June, Elizabeth gazed out of the bus window at the rolling countryside. It lifted her spirits. She hadn’t seen her family in nearly two months—work kept her too busy.
“Mum hasn’t been well lately,” she mused. “Thank goodness Alice lives with her. Otherwise, I’d have to visit more often, and it’s not a short trip—three hours by bus.”
Her younger sister, Alice, had never left. She’d married a local man, Henry, and settled in the village. Their father had died young, so Alice and Henry had moved in with their mother. Henry was practical—he’d renovated the house, added an extension, and even built a separate entrance so they wouldn’t disturb his mother-in-law. Alice had twin boys, now studying at college in the city.
“Unlike me, Alice always wanted to stay,” Elizabeth once told her friend Victoria. Once, she even brought Victoria to the village, who marvelled at the fresh air and scenery.
“I get it, Vicky,” Elizabeth had laughed. “You’re a city girl, so it all seems charming. But try living here during autumn rains or spring mud—you’d change your tune!”
This time, the journey passed quickly—she dozed off, waking only as the bus turned onto the bumpy dirt road leading to “Joyful.” Stepping out, Elizabeth took a deep breath.
“Nothing ever changes,” she smiled, heading home.
The sun was warm, the air fresh, birds singing—her mood lifted just being back.
“Hello, Lizzie dear,” came a frail voice. It was Mrs. Wilson, her mother’s neighbour. “Come to visit your mum?”
“Hello, Mrs. Wilson. Yes, I’ve missed her.”
“She’ll be glad to see you—she was just talking about you the other day. Well, I’m off to the shop—just got my pension.”
“How’s your health?”
“Oh, love, at my age, what can you expect?” The old woman chuckled and shuffled away.
Elizabeth pushed open the garden gate. No one was outside, but as she stepped inside, the family cat, Oliver, twined around her ankles.
“Hello, handsome,” she cooed, scratching his chin as he purred.
“Handsome?” Alice laughed, poking her head from the kitchen. “That tub of fluff barely fits in his bowl! Hello, sis!” They embraced. “Hungry? Mum’s just picking strawberries for you.”
“Starving. And let’s eat outside—it’s too lovely to sit inside.”
“Thought you’d say that. Mum!” she called. “Lizzie’s here!”
Her mother appeared, beaming, a bowl of berries in hand. “Hello, love!”
Elizabeth hugged her tightly. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Over lunch, Elizabeth caught up on village news—some happy, others sad. Most of the old faces she remembered were gone now.
“Where’s Henry?” she asked.
“Oh, he’s on a work contract up north,” Alice said. “Month there, month home. Pays well—we even got a car!”
“Lucky you found a good man. Not like me.”
Alice smirked. “You should’ve married a local, like I did!”
Just then, the postwoman, Claire, arrived with a parcel notice.
“Alice, another order?”
“Cheers, Claire. Fancy a cuppa?”
“No time, busy day. But Lizzie could collect it for you—if she takes your ID.”
“Why do you want to go to the post office?” Alice frowned.
“I’d love the walk! Fetch your passport—I’ve sat enough for one day.”
“Or take my bike—relive your youth!” Alice teased.
Elizabeth grinned. “Brilliant idea!”
Soon, she was cycling through the village, the breeze warm on her face. At the old wooden post office, she parked and went inside.
“Lizzie! Blimey, look at you!” The postmistress, Sarah, a schoolmate, greeted her warmly.
They chatted, reminiscing, before Elizabeth collected the parcel and set off again.
Distracted by a neighbour’s garden, she nearly collided with another cyclist.
“Whoa!” She braked hard.
“No harm done,” the man laughed—tall, sun-tanned, in a white T-shirt.
Elizabeth flushed, suddenly self-conscious. They introduced themselves—he was Stephen, visiting his aunt. Turned out, his cousin had been her classmate.
“Fancy a detour by the river?” he asked.
“Let’s.”
By the water, they talked for hours—discovering he was a surgeon in the next town over, divorced after his wife left him for a younger man.
“Lizzie, when are you heading back?”
“Tomorrow evening.”
“Let’s go Monday—I’ll drive you.”
He picked her a bouquet of wildflowers, honey-scented. When she returned home, Alice’s eyes widened.
“Where’ve you been?”
“Out.”
“And who gave you those?”
“A gentleman.”
Alice laughed. “Stephen, isn’t it? He’s a good sort!”
The next day, Elizabeth and Stephen strolled, laughing, an undeniable spark between them. For the first time, she felt truly boundless joy.
They left together in his car, the boot packed with homegrown veg and preserves. Her family waved them off—Elizabeth had never looked happier.
They didn’t wait long to marry, having found in each other something rare. And in the village called “Joyful,” they discovered that happiness, once fleeting, could indeed be endless.
Sometimes, the life you least expect becomes the one you were meant to live.
