**Diary Entry**
*3rd September*
“Natalie, I won’t be staying with your son anymoremake sure he knows that,” Emily said, her voice steady.
“And who exactly will you live with? Wholl want you with a child in tow?” her mother-in-law, Margaret, muttered. “I dont see a queue of princes waiting for you outside, do I?”
Emily was packing her daughter Charlottes thingsjust the essentials. Her own belongings were already in the bag, folded neatly. She moved calmly, methodically, ticking off each item in her mind. A warm jumper for Charlottedone. Shoesdone.
She wasnt crying anymore. The sleepless night had been enough. Shed made her decisionshe and William needed to separate.
She heard him come home late. He peered into the bedroom, then pushed open Charlottes door when he didnt find her there. Emily pretended to sleep.
In the morning, before leaving for work, William hovered outside Charlottes room. He hesitated but didnt dare enterhed put off the confrontation for later. But there wouldnt be one. In half an hour, Emily would call a taxi and leave with two-year-old Charlotte for her parents house.
After last night, she never wanted to see William again, let alone speak to him.
Shed grown used to him staggering in drunk every Friday. But last night was a Wednesday. Worse, shed asked him to come home early to watch Charlotte while she met her friend Sarah, whod promised to help her find remote work. Seeing the state he was in, shed called Sarah to reschedule. William hadnt taken it well.
“Who are you calling? What meeting?” hed snapped.
“Sarah. We were supposed to meet, but I cant leave Charlotte with you like this.”
“Why not?”
“Look at yourself in the mirror. Go sleep it offyouve work tomorrow.” She turned toward the kitchen.
“Stop!” He grabbed her arm. “Whats wrong with how I am? Had a few pints with the ladsits Daves birthday. Bloody princess! I decide when I come home. Got it?”
She tried to pull free. “Let go! Youre hurting me! Have you lost your mind?”
She jerked her arm, and he staggered.
“Oh, thats how it is?” His fist struck her nose before he even seemed to realise what hed done.
Emily clutched her face. William, looking stunned himself, released her and tried to speak. But she turned away and went to Charlotte.
“Princess!” he shouted again before storming out.
That word*princess*had always been his mothers favourite insult. Margaret had never liked her.
“Twenty-one and still living off her parents! Studying! At her age, I already had one child and another on the way!”
“A husband, a home, responsibilities! But shes *studying*! A proper princess! Youll regret this, Will. Shouldve picked a simpler girl.”
Her parents hadnt approved of William either.
“Emily, why the rush? Hes not the last man on earth! In love? Fine, date him, even live togetherthough you know how I feel about that. But marriage? Thinkcan you really spend your life with him? Look at his family. Then decide.”
She *had* decided. And realised her mistake within six months. She couldve left. But first, it was humiliating to admit her parents had been right. Second, she was already pregnant.
Charlottes birth didnt change William. He still believed housework and childcare were her problems. Her exhaustion, Charlottes illnessesnone of it excused an unmade dinner or an untidy flat.
“Cant handle *one* child? Other women manage! Probably napping while Im at work!”
“Cant find time to shop or cook all day?” hed sneer.
“Charlottes teethingshes fussy. I cant cook while holding her. I ordered groceries. Cant *you* make something? Or watch her while I cook?”
The rose-tinted glasses had shattered long ago. Shed begun to see her mother had been rightshe shouldve looked closer at Williams family before marrying him.
A few times, shed nearly left. But William swore hed change, and shed believed him.
Then last night happened. The first time hed raised a hand to her. That was it.
Yes, it was humiliating facing her parents. But she refused to live with a man who thought it acceptable to hit her. More than that, she refused to let Charlotte grow up in that home.
Her mother spotted the taxi pulling up outside their house.
“James, lookEmilys here. With bags. Help her with the suitcase.”
When Emily stepped inside and removed her sunglasses, her parents froze. Her left eye was swollen, a bruise spreading beneath it.
“William did this?!” her mother gasped.
Emily nodded.
“Ill sort him out,” her father growled, reaching for his coat.
“Dad, no,” Emily stopped him. “Ill punish him my way. Just help me get our thingsCharlottes cot, everything.”
Her father and uncle went to collect their belongings, then took her to A&E.
“If you want to report him, this wont be enoughyoull need a medical examiners report,” her uncle explained.
“Well go tomorrow,” her father said. “Need an appointment.”
William came home from work with flowers and a toy for Charlotte. But the flat was empty. No belongings. No cot.
He tried calling Emilyher phone was off. Then he rang her mother.
“Yes, Emily and Charlotte are here. And dont you dare show your facemy husbands fists are itching. Shell file for divorce herself.”
William kept calling. Even lurked outside her parents house. But Emily ignored him, only taking Charlotte into the garden when she needed air.
A week later, divorce papers arrived. Then Margaret appeared at the gate.
“Mum, I dont want to speak to her,” Emily said.
“We should,” her mother insisted. “Clear the airbut not inside. Charlottes napping. Well talk in the garden.”
“So, divorcing him?” Margaret began. “Because things didnt go your way?”
“William hit me,” Emily said flatly.
“You provoked him! Comes home tipsydont nag him, let him sleep it off! But no, you had to push, didnt you? And now youll divorce him? Leave your child fatherless?”
“Margaret, I wont live with your son. Tell him that.”
“Wholl want you with a child? I dont see princes lining up.”
“Ill manage.”
“Then dont expect his flat or child support,” Margaret sneered.
“I dont want his flat. But I *will* take him to court for supportand Ill win.”
She did. The divorce was swiftthe medical report sealed it. Support was granted, plus £400 a month for Emily until Charlotte turned three.
Five years later. Charlottes first day of school, surrounded by parents and excited children. Emily stood with her parents, waiting.
“Will Daddy come?” Charlotte asked.
“Hell be here. He just calledhes on his way,” Emily said. Then she spotted him in the crowd and waved.
But it wasnt William. Three years ago, Emily had married Daniel, a colleague. Now, they were expecting another child.
William, though? Still alone. There had been women he liked, and some who liked him. But whenever things turned serious, someone always revealed why his first wife left.
Small towns have long memories. And William had earned a nickname*the sofa boxer*.
Maybe one day, a woman would overlook it. But so far? Nothing.
Karma. Some dont believe in itbut it finds a way.
