The Truth That Tightened Every Heartstring As she hung freshly laundered clothes on the line in her back garden, Tanya heard soft sobs and peered over the fence. There, beside her fence, sat Sophie—the eight-year-old girl next door. Though already in Year 3, Sophie looked small and skinny, as if she were only six. “Sophie, have they upset you again? Come on, let’s go inside,” Tanya said, moving aside a loose fence board. Sophie often came running to their house for comfort. “Mum kicked me out. Told me, ‘Get lost,’ and shoved me outside. She’s laughing inside with Uncle Nick,” Sophie explained through tears. “Don’t worry, come on in. Lisa and Michael are having lunch, I’ll make sure you get something too.” Tanya had rescued Sophie from her mother’s harsh ways many times. With only the fence between them, Tanya could scoop Sophie up and provide a safe haven until Sophie’s mum, Anna, cooled off. Tanya’s own children, Lisa and Michael, were never scolded or mistreated; Sophie envied them deeply. Their home was peaceful, warm, and loving—a stark contrast to her own. At home, Sophie wasn’t allowed anything. Her mother made her haul water, clean out the shed, weed the garden, and scrub floors. Anna had raised Sophie on her own, out of wedlock and, from the beginning, resented her daughter. When Anna’s mother was alive, she defended and cared for Sophie, but when she passed away at Sophie’s sixth birthday, things grew much harder. Consumed by the bitterness of life alone, Anna worked night shifts as a cleaner at the bus depot, always looking for a new man. When Nick, a freshly-divorced driver, joined, Anna quickly moved him in. He was happy for a roof over his head, and Sophie was barely a concern—more like a future housemaid. Anna’s attention went solely to Nick. Sophie was berated, forced to work, smacked, and threatened with the orphanage. When she struggled with chores, she would slip by the fence into the neighbour’s garden and cry beneath the currant bush—if Tanya saw, she brought her inside at once. Neighbours gossiped in their English village about Anna’s cruelty, and Tanya was never silent. Anna, however, spread rumours that Tanya wanted Nick for herself and invented stories about Sophie being mistreated. Anna and Nick often held raucous parties. In those times, Sophie escaped overnight to Tanya’s house. Tanya understood her pain and comforted her as no one else could. Years passed. Sophie excelled at school. When she finished her GCSEs, she dreamed of nursing college in the city—but Anna was adamant: “Get a job. You’re old enough. Don’t think you’ll sit around living off me,” she said harshly. Sophie burst into tears but wasn’t even allowed to cry at home. Sophie went to Tanya for support; Tanya’s own children were off at university. This time, Tanya confronted Anna directly: “Anna, you’re no mother, just cruel. Most mums do everything for their children; you’re pushing yours away. She deserves a chance, she nearly got top marks. Then you’ll be glad she’s around for you in your old age.” Anna snapped, “Mind your own! Sophie’s used to running next door to you.” Tanya persisted, “Nick sent his own lad off to the city for college; you could try showing kindness to your own daughter.” After shouting herself hoarse, Anna finally relented, “Fine, let her apply for nursing. Whatever.” Sophie entered the programme easily. Her happiness was boundless, though her simple clothes made her self-conscious—others from rural towns dressed that way too. She returned home only for holidays, stopping at Tanya’s first for a meal and a warm welcome. Meanwhile, Anna’s problems mounted. Nick left her for a younger woman. When Sophie returned for half-term, Anna was irritable, barely acknowledging her: “Why are you here? I can’t deal with you. Go find a job on your break.” Nick, packing his bags to go, cut Anna deeply with his words: “My new partner is having my baby, and I’ll be there for my child. Your daughter doesn’t know what a mother’s love is, as if you found her under a bush. My kid will know real love—both parents together.” His words wounded Anna beyond tears—the truth closed her throat and weighed on her heart. Sophie overheard it all. She remembered every cruel moment—her mother’s blows and neglect. Nick never lifted a hand, but watched with a smirk. On her final term, Sophie worked at the hospital while studying. Self-sufficient and growing into a fine young woman, she was respected and even complimented for her upbringing—but she knew it was thanks to Tanya. Anna, sinking further, hosted drinking friends and grew more unkempt. Sophie’s rare visits left her saddened, but Anna only demanded more money. After graduating with distinction, Sophie went home. Alone and bitter, Anna greeted her, “Why have you come? I’ve nothing for you. The fridge’s off—give me money, my head aches.” A lump formed in Sophie’s throat, but she remained firm: “I won’t stay long. I’m starting at the county hospital soon. I’ll send money now and then. Goodbye, Mum.” Anna only focused on the money, her sole desire to “fix her head.” Sophie handed over some cash and left, hoping—just maybe—her mother might follow and embrace her, but was instead met with silence. She quietly headed next door. Tanya welcomed her with open arms and a celebration: “Come sit down, Sophie, let’s eat together. And here’s a gift—for graduating with honours, and some money for your new start.” Sophie broke down in tears. “Tanya, why does my mum treat me like a stranger?” Tanya embraced her. “Don’t cry, Sophie. Some mothers are like Anna. It’s not your fault—you’re clever, beautiful, and destined for love and happiness.” Sophie moved to the county, working as a surgical nurse. There she met her husband, Oliver, a young surgeon. At her wedding, it was Tanya at her side, beaming with pride. Anna boasted to her drinking friends, “I raised my daughter well—she sends me money! I taught her everything. But she never invites me over, never lets me see the grandkids, not even met her husband.” Soon after, Tanya found Anna passed away at home. No one knows how long she’d lain there. Sophie and Oliver arranged her funeral and sold the house, visiting Tanya and her husband now and then—forever grateful for the love that made all the difference.

The truth that squeezed everything inside

While Peg was hanging freshly laundered clothes on a line in her garden in a quiet corner of Kent, she heard sniffles from just beyond her fence. Peeking over, she saw little Emily, the neighbour’s eight-year-old girl, sitting there. Despite being in Year 3, Emily looked more like a child of sixpetite and fragile.

“Emily, have they upset you again? Come on in,” Peg said, gently moving aside a loose fence panel. Emily often sought shelter at Pegs.

“Mum kicked me out, told me to go away and pushed me out the door,” Emily explained through tears, rubbing her eyes. “She and Uncle Dave are laughing and making noise.”

“Never mind, come inside. Jenny and Michael are having dinner; I’ll get you something to eat, too.”

Peg had come to Emily’s aid many times, shielding her from the sharp temper of her mother, Linda. Thankfully, Peg’s garden was right beside theirs. Peg would keep Emily with her until Linda calmed down, sending her back only when the storm had passed.

Emily envied Peg’s children, Jenny and Michael. Peg and her husband were always loving and gentle with their kids; there was never shouting or punishment in their home. Peace and warmth filled the air, and Emily craved that environment. The comfort she found there sometimes squeezed her heart so tightly that she felt she could hardly breathe.

At home, Emily wasnt allowed to do much. Her mum made her fetch water, clean the shed, weed the garden, scrub the floors. Linda had raised Emily on her own from the start, never having much affection for her daughter. Back when Emilys grandmother, Lindas mum, was alive, things were better. Granny loved Emily dearly and kept an eye on her, but was ill and frail. Emily felt safest when Granny defended her. When Granny passed away, Emily was six, and life suddenly became much harder.

Her mum, embittered by single life, spent most of her time seeking a man, wanting what others seemed to have. Linda worked as a cleaner at the local coach depot, where nearly all the staff were men. One day, Dave, a new driver, arrived, and Linda quickly fell for him.

Dave was divorced, sending child support to his own son, but jumped at Linda’s offer to move inhe needed a roof over his head. Linda poured all her attention into Dave, fussing over him, and adored him. He soon realised he had landed comfortably, and Emily didnt bother him.

“She can run under my feet for now,” he thought. “When shes older, she can help around the place.”

Linda focused on Dave, while Emily faced nothing but criticism and choressometimes even a slap or worse.

“If you dont listen, Ill send you to foster care,” Linda would threaten.

Emily was often too weak even to manage the shed cleaning, earning her more scolding. She would huddle beneath the currant bush by the fence, weeping quietly until Peg noticed and took her inside. The other villagers frowned at Lindas behaviour; in small places, everyone knows each other, and Peg certainly didnt hold back her opinion. Linda spread rumours in return.

“Why listen to my busybody neighbour? She just wants Dave for herself and makes up stories about us mistreating Emily.”

Linda and Dave drank heavily at celebrations, leaving Emily to escape to Peg’s, who understood her like no one else.

Years trickled by. Emily did well in school, growing into a thoughtful girl, and after finishing her GCSEs wanted to apply to a nursing college in the city. But her mother was adamant.

“Youll get a job. Youre old enough. No lazing around here anymore,” Linda snapped.

Emily burst into tears and fled the houseshe was never allowed to cry inside.

Once shed calmed a little, Emily went to Peg and poured out her heart. Peg’s own children were away studying in town. This time, Peg could no longer hold back, and marched over to Linda.

“Linda, youre no mother. People do everything for their children, and youre pushing Emily away. Shes worked so hard at schoolthe least you could do is give her a chance. One day youll want her help when youre old.”

“Who do you think you are, meddling in my household?” Linda exploded. “Look after your own; Emilys always running to you with her sob stories!”

“Get a grip, Linda. Dave put his son through college, even though he doesnt live with him, but youre cruel to your own. Wake upare you even human?”

Linda screamed at Peg, but was soon exhausted, collapsing on the sofa.

“Maybe I am strict,” she muttered, “but its for Emilys own good. I want her to grow up better than I did; not end up like me, no good. Finelet her go to college if she wants.”

Emily easily got into the nursing college and was overjoyed. She felt self-conscious, though, dressed plainly compared to city girls, but others from villages were just the same, and no one cared. She rarely returned home.

She dreaded seeing her mum and Dave. But sometimes, during holidays, shed have to, always stopping by Peg’s first. Peg would sit her down, feed her, and listen carefully. Peg and her husband were always welcoming.

Linda, meanwhile, was struggling. Dave had run off with a younger woman. When Emily arrived for the summer, Linda was sour.

“Why have you come? I dont need you here, eating me out of house and home. Get a job if youre not at college.”

One evening, Dave arrived home packing his belongings.

“And just where do you think youre going?” Linda shouted.

“Ritas having my child, and Im not turning my back on my own. Thats the difference between you and me. You never cared about Emilyshe grew up as if shed been abandoned. My child will know theyre loved, right from the start, and will never lack for affection,” Dave said, and left.

Linda was stunned into silence. The truth was too much; she couldnt even cry.

Emily heard it all. She didn’t try to comfort her mother; her mind flashed with memories of every slap, every time she was thrown out, every time Dave simply smirked. He never defended herjust sat back and watched.

In her final year, Emily began working nights at a local hospital, becoming self-sufficient. She never went home; her mum drank more, looked worn and ill, struggling to get by. Once a timid child, Emily was now a bright, competent young woman, well-liked by patients and colleagues. People called her well-mannered, complimented Lindas parentingEmily only smiled.

“Thats not true,” she thought. “Its all PegI owe her everything. She cared for me, gave me confidence, shielded me, and set me on the path to my career.”

Linda often brought strange drinkers home, and Emily, rare in her visits, was shocked each time. Linda had lost her job, and nothing Emily said could change her. Emily just wished she could kick all the hangers-on out, fix the house up, and start over with her mumbut Linda had sunk too far.

Despite everything, Emily didnt cry.

When Emily finished college, she visited home. Linda was alone, glaring at her.

“So, youve come? Not staying long, I hope. Theres nothing to eat and the fridges off. Give me some money, my head hurts.”

Emily swallowed hard, fighting back tears.

“I wont be staying, Mum. I finished with distinction and Im off to start work at the county hospital. I wont be able to visit much, but Ill send a bit of money now and then. Goodbye, Mum.”

Linda barely registered her daughter’s words, focused only on her need for more drink.

“Give me moneyyou dont care for your own mother What kind of daughter are you?”

Emily pulled some notes from her pocket, placed them on the table, closed the door quietly behind her, and paused outside, hoping maybe her mother would call after her, even hug her. But she didnt. Emily slowly walked to Pegs house.

Peg welcomed her warmly. “Come on, Emily, join us for lunch,” she said as her husband sat at the table.

“Oh! Wait a moment,” Peg remembered, fetching a gift bag from the other room. “This is for youa little something for doing so well, and a bit of money to help you start out.”

Emily couldnt hold it in and began to cry.

“Aunt Peg, why is my mum like this? As if Im not her own?”

Peg hugged her tight. “Dont cry, Emily. Theres nothing you can change now. Lindas like that, but youre clever and beautifulyoull have happiness and love, I promise.”

Emily moved to the city, working as a nurse in surgery, where a young doctor, Andrew, fell in love with her and soon they married. At her wedding, Peg sat at her side instead of her mother, delighted for Emily.

Linda sent word to her so-called friends: “Look at my daughter! She sends me money, shes grateful. I raised her, put her through college. Funny she never invited me to her wedding or brings her kids to visit. Never even met my son-in-law.”

After a time, Peg found Linda collapsed at homegone. No-one knew how long shed been there. Emily and her husband arranged the funeral and soon sold the house, but visited Peg and her husband from time to time.

Through hardship, Emily learned that compassion and kindness from others can mean more than any family bond. True care isnt measured by blood, but by love, empathy, and those who stand by us through the storms. And sometimes, the family we choose brings us all the warmth we ever need.