When he walked out and sold the house, I found light in the darkness.
Emily froze as if her whole world had collapsed when her husbands nephew, Daniel, handed her a folded note and quickly slipped away, breathless. She already knew something was wrongshed felt it for months. Thomas had become distant, staying at his brothers place, talking about pig farming. With shaking hands, she unfolded the paper. *”Emily, Im leaving. Forgive me. I wont take the kids. I cant live with you anymore. Sold the househeres your share. Go to your mums.”* The money scattered at her feet, and she swayed as if the wind had swept her life away.
Granny Veronica stepped into the room, voice trembling. “Emily, love, whats happened?” Emily swallowed the lump in her throat. “Its fine, Mum. Go have teathe biscuits are burning.” The smell of vanilla mixed with charred cookies. Shed expected this momentrumours from Victoria, Thomas sister-in-law, had been whispered for months. But now the truth lay at her feet, cold and sharp as a blade.
Liam burst in from the garden. “Mum, Uncle Peters calling for you.” She straightened her coat and stepped outside. The neighbour shifted uncomfortably. “Emily I bought the house, for me and Jessica. But take your time moving out.” Emily stood tall. “Give me three days. Ill be gone.” She shut the door, ignoring his “where will you go?” Liam ran up, cheeks flushed. “Mum, wheres Dad?” She pulled him close, breathing in the scent of sweat from his scuffed football cap, and whispered, “Hes left, love.” “Ill kill him!” “No. Were strong. Well figure it out.”
Sophia whimpered as Emily settled the kids at the table, then went to Granny Veronica. She sat by the window, shoulders shaking. “Emily, put me in a care home.” “Dont be daft. Were going together.” “What?” “Dont know yet.” She rang her mother, who just snapped, “Go to that coward, throw the money in his face!” “No.” Her mother couldnt helpshe had a new family, and her stepfather had cut Emily off years ago. Granny Veronica, her aunt, had been abandoned when her village was demolished. No one wanted hertill Emily took her in six years ago. Now they were all the family they had.
The phone buzzed again. Her mother: “Where will you go with Granny?” “Not to you.” Emily hung up, flipped through an old address book, and dialled. “Emily here. Thomas left. Can Granny stay with you?” “No, Ive got enough on my plate!” The line went dead. She looked at the kids and Grannya cramped train carriage, a tired woman with sad eyes, a serious boy, a lively girl, and a weeping old lady. She was heading where hope still flickered.
“Hello, Dad,” Emily said, standing by his door. He blinked in shock. “The kids? Granny?” “Give me the keys to the flat Grandma left me in her will.” He fumbled. “Come in, Lucy, what a surprise!” His wife smiled tightly. “No guestsyoure family!” But three days later, Emily heard her hiss, “When are they leaving?” “Dad, wheres the flat?” Lucy slammed a spoon down. “There isnt one! We sold it with your mumsplit the money!” Her dad looked away. Emily clenched her fists. “Three days.”
Finding a place to rent was hell. “No kids allowed.” “No husband? Whats the story?” “Pay three months upfront.” Jobs were worse. “No experience?” “Young kids? Sorry.” Then Boris showed up. “Young, quick learner. Three days training, then youre renting flats.” Emily exhaled. They moved into a tiny bedsit with a shared bathroom. The kids grinned. “Do we have our own rooms?” Granny Veronica cried. “Im a burden.” “Were family. Youre my helper.”
Boris Arkwright offered her legal training. “Business is growingwe need someone.” Emily whispered to Granny, “Should I?” “Go, love.” Time flew. Liam grew taller; Sophia finished school. They bought a flattheir own. “Mum, is this really ours?” “Yes. And a spare room for guests.” Then Aunt Emily called. “Its my birthdayyou hid them from me!” “I rang. You hid first.” “What about savings?” “You tell me.” She hung up, smiling. At Grannys grave, she whispered, “Remember Simon? He gave me three days to decide. Ill answer him now.”
Sunlight broke through the clouds, warming her skinlike Granny was still there. “We made it, Mum.” At home, the kids waited, a new life, a man who loved her. And somewhere far off, Thomas had his moneybut no family. Who lost more? She tilted her face to the sky and thought, *”Thank you for those three days.”* Maybe it wasnt for nothing. Maybe you have to endure the dark to see the light.
