Shadows of Care: The Drama of Emily and Her Family
Emily lay in a hospital bed in a small clinic in Manchester, her face pale but her eyes bright with relief. Her best friend, Lucy, walked in carrying a bag of fruits.
“Blimey, you gave us a right scare, Em!” Lucy exclaimed, sitting by the bed. “How could you put up with it for so long? What if they hadn’t got you here in time?”
Emily smiled weakly, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Sorry, Lu. It all happened so fast—I didn’t think it was serious. I thought it’d pass. Thank God it’s over now. How’s Gran? Is Daniel managing with her? She’s been so difficult lately.”
“Don’t worry, love, it’s all sorted,” Lucy reassured her. “Gran’s fine—still kicking, fed, and looked after. Just moaning as usual.”
“Ta, Lucy, I owe you one for helping with her,” Emily squeezed her friend’s hand.
“Oh, give over! You don’t owe me anything,” Lucy laughed, though there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes. “Honestly, I rush over with a pot of soup, thinking poor Gran must be starving, and guess what’s happening at yours?”
“What’s happening?” Emily frowned, confused.
“Can you believe how worried we’ve all been?” Lucy’s voice trembled slightly. “What were you thinking, Em? Suffering in silence like that—you could’ve been in real trouble!”
Emily, still weak from the surgery, lay tucked under the thin hospital blanket, managing a faint smile.
“Sorry, Lu. I didn’t expect it either. The pain came out of nowhere—thought it’d go away. Honestly, it was touch and go for a bit. But it’s alright now, I’ll be out soon. Gran’s at home, and I can’t just lie about—Daniel’s on his own with her, and she’s been so fussy lately.”
“Stop fretting, everything’s under control,” Lucy said gently. “Gran’s fine—fed, clean, moaning, but that’s nothing new.”
“Lucy, you’re an absolute saint,” Emily said gratefully. “Dunno how we’d manage without you.”
“Oh, shut it!” Lucy waved her off, but a cheeky grin spread across her face. “Don’t thank me—thank your Daniel. He’s not just a husband, he’s a bloody treasure! Always knew he was a good’un, but now? Proper respect. I turn up with soup, thinking I’ve got to save Gran, and—well, you won’t believe it!”
“What won’t I believe?” Emily’s heart skipped a beat.
“This!” Lucy’s eyes sparkled. “I walk in, and the whole flat smells like a proper roast dinner! Gran’s lying there, clean as a whistle, fed, happy as a queen. I’m like, ‘Right, I’ll wash my hands, get Gran changed, sort her dinner.’ And Daniel just goes, ‘No need, Lu, it’s all sorted. Dinner’s done, Gran’s been changed and fed.’ I nearly dropped the pot!”
“*Him*?!” Emily gasped, her eyes widening.
“Him, Em, *him*!” Lucy nodded. “Didn’t believe it meself—asked, ‘How’d you manage to change her? She won’t let *anyone* near her except you!’ And he’s just dead calm, says, ‘We came to an arrangement.’ I go in, and sure enough—clean, tidy, even smiling. Worried sick about you, of course, crying. I told her you’re alright.”
Emily closed her eyes, her cheeks burning with guilt. How could she face Daniel now? She’d left him alone with Gran, and he’d taken it all on without a word. Even when she’d asked on the phone—”Has Lucy been round? She promised to help”—he’d just said, “Yeah, she popped in. All fine, don’t worry.” Even Gran, when Emily spoke to her, hadn’t let on—just cried and asked how she was.
Emily had lived with Gran in their old Manchester flat since she was ten. At first, it was with her parents, but then they decided their marriage had been a mistake. Her dad moved abroad after the divorce, married again. Sent money on time, visited at first, then forgot his daughter needed more than just cash. Her mum didn’t grieve long—found a new husband, had two boys, and Emily sort of faded into the background.
When her parents split, there wasn’t room for Emily in either of their new families. Her mum and stepdad moved to another city, and Emily stayed with Gran, who’d said bluntly:
“Like it or lump it, love—it’s just us now. Let’s get one thing straight: we help each other, ’cause there’s no one else to rely on. Your parents have gone their own ways, but we’ve got nowhere else to go.”
Emily hadn’t wanted anywhere else. Gran was strict but fair. Only ever argued when there was a point—and even then, it was half for show, calling her by her full name: *”Emily, that’s not how things are done!”*
Her mum remembered her when the boys were older. Started calling, inviting her over: “Come stay, Em, get your documents in order—better opportunities here.” Emily was finishing school, deciding on uni. She almost jumped at the offer, but Gran stopped her:
“Course, run off now your mum’s remembered you! But think—they’ve been there how many years? And *now* they want you? Why not before? Free babysitter, is it? Finish school, do your exams, *then* go. Till then, stay put.”
Emily listened. Her mum took offence, hung up, wouldn’t speak. When Emily passed her exams and was ready to go, her mum shut her down: “Too late, Em. Didn’t come when we needed you—don’t bother now. Stay there, look after Gran.”
So she stayed. Went to uni, got a degree, found a job. That’s where she met Daniel, and soon they married. Not a shotgun wedding, like some whispered, but because Emily knew—he was her person. A small wedding, but her dress was gorgeous. Her parents showed up, made time, even seemed happy.
They’d been married less than a year. Rented a flat so as not to crowd Gran, though she’d grumbled: “You’re no bother to me!” Still, she was proud they wanted their own space. When Gran had a stroke and couldn’t manage alone, Emily and Daniel moved back in. Gran needed constant care but refused a carer: “What, strangers wiping me? I’d rather die!”
So they made it work. Gran grew fussy, moaning at everyone—especially when Emily washed or changed her: *”Fancy this—my own granddaughter cleaning up after me!”* Daniel? She wouldn’t let him near. Once, when he tried helping with dinner, she yelled: “A *man* fussing over me? Get out before I clout you!” Daniel tried explaining, but Gran just pursed her lips: “Don’t push your luck! Bad enough Em sees this.”
Emily’s stomach pains started two days before hospital. Took a pill—felt better. Then it hurt again, another pill. Should’ve seen a doctor, but how? Gran was home, no one to watch her. The pain was bearable—thought it’d pass. Colleagues at work warned her: “Em, you daft? Get to hospital, this isn’t a joke!” She brushed them off: “It’s nothing, I’ll manage.” An hour later, they called an ambulance. Appendicitis.
Lucy rang Daniel straight away: “Your missus is in hospital—how’d you not notice?” He left work, rushed over, but the doctor sent him home: “All good, surgery’s done, she’s sleeping.” Daniel went back to Gran, walked in, and said firmly:
“Margaret, listen. Em’s in hospital—appendicitis. Surgery went fine, she’s resting. But she’ll need time to recover after. No stressing her. I’m your carer now. You can refuse, but then it’s just Lucy in evenings—or we hire someone, but that’s tricky right now. I’m family—her husband.”
Gran cried silently. Her granddaughter’s husband, tending to her! But Daniel didn’t budge:
“It’s alright. Happens to anyone. When my granddad was poorly, we all pitched in. I know what I’m doing. For now, it’s just us.”
By the time Lucy turned up with soup, Daniel had done it all—fed Gran, changed her, cleaned up. While Emily was in hospital, he became her carer. At first, Gran was embarrassed, but she gave in—even warmed to him more.
When Emily came home, Gran looked at her and smiled:
“You picked a good’un, Em. If he’ll put up with— “You picked a good’un, Em. If he’ll put up with me, he’ll stick by you through anything.”
