“My son, please look after your poorly sister. You mustnt abandon her!” whispered Mum, her words clawing at his chest.
“Listen, son” she breathed, barely audible.
Every word was agony. The illness had gnawed away at her without mercy. She lay in bed, frail as tissue paper. Edward barely recognised her. Once, shed been strong, smiling, full of life. Now
“Edward, promise me youll take care of Millie Shes delicate. Different, but shes ours. Swear it” Mum squeezed his hand with sudden strength. Where she found the energy, he had no idea.
Edward winced. His gaze flicked to his older sister, Millie, playing in the corner of their cramped London flat. She was past forty but still babbling to her dolls, humming tunelessly. She smiled as if this were a birthday party, not her mothers deathbed.
Edward had life sorteda thriving construction firm, a flashy SUV, a big house in Surrey. But Millie didnt fit there. His kids were scared of her, and his wife, Beatrice, called her “the loon.” Never mind that Millie was harmless, just lost in her own happy little world.
“Well you know Ive got responsibilities and Millies” he mumbled, trying to tug his hand free.
“Son, your fathers house is yours,” Mum wheezed. “But Ive left Millie a three-bed flat. Its all legal.”
“Whered you get the money?!” Edward and Beatrice exchanged stunned glances, their faces lighting up with greedy delight.
“I looked after old Miss Higgins Brought her meals, medicines She was kind. Never thought shed leave me the flat. Its in Millies name, so shell always have a home. But youyou must watch over her, please Later, itll go to your kids. Who knows how long shell last”
That night, Mum passed.
Millie didnt seem to grasp she was now an orphan. Edward took her in at once and started renovating the flat.
“Why does Millie need all that space? She can stay with us. Well rent it out.”
At first, Beatrice didnt argue. Millie wasnt any troublejust played quietly all day, giggling to herself. But her odd little habits unnerved Beatrice. “Shes harmless today, but what about tomorrow?”
“Just bear with it,” Edward pleaded. Yet six months later, with help from a solicitor mate, he transferred Mums house and Millies flat into his name. Tricked Millie into signing papers without explaining a word.
Thats when the nightmare started.
While Edward was at work, Beatrice tormented Millieshouting, locking her in rooms, sometimes feeding her cat food. Hed find her crying, terrified. One day, Beatrice hit her. Millie, in shock, wet herself.
“Not just a simpleton, but you wet yourself too?! Out of my house!”
She chucked Millies things in a bin bag and shoved her out the door.
“Wheres Millie?” Edward asked that evening, flopping into bed.
“Gone!” Beatrice snapped. “Pissed herself, then locked herself in the bedroom. When I opened the door, she bolted with her bag. Im not chasing after some daft woman!”
Edward said nothing. Then shrugged. “Well, if shes gone” and flicked on the telly. “Oh, found tenants, by the way.”
The night dragged. He thought of Milliewhere was she? Helpless as a lost child. He only slept at dawn, dreaming of Mum:
“I begged you, son” she hissed from her coffin, wagging a bony finger.
The dream haunted him for weeks. He couldnt take it. Two months later, he called his godmother, Margaret:
“What, Edward, conscience biting you?” she said coldly. “Good thing I checked on your mum. Found Millie shaking like a leaf, took her in. Ill keep her. Dont want her flat. You live with the shame!”
“Oh, Godmother” he muttered, hanging up. Relief washed over himMillie was safe.
But two months later, she died of the same illness as Mum. Edward skipped the funeral”urgent business.”
Ten years passed. Now Edward lay ill himself, racked with pain and regret. Beatrice had left him for another man. His kids rarely visited, muttering through gritted teeth.
One day, Beatrice marched in with papers:
“Sign these. Lets sort the firm.”
He signed. Too late, he realisedit was the house deed. Then the business. Gone. He thought of Mum and Millie. Tears rolled down his cheeks.
“Forgive me” he whispered into the emptiness swallowing him whole.
