Emma was still asleep when a persistent knock echoed through the quiet Saturday morning. Startled, she sat up in bed. Who could be here so early? She wasn’t expecting anyone.
Opening the door, she froze: her colleagues—Sophie, Natalie, and Lucy—stood on the doorstep. Sophie held a thermos, while Natalie carried a box with a homemade pie.
“What are you doing here?” Emma gasped. “It’s the weekend!”
“That’s exactly why we’re here,” Sophie said, stepping inside as if she owned the place. “Where’s your daughter?”
“Charlotte’s still asleep… What’s going on?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Natalie said gently. “Get her ready and pack a bag. You’re coming with us to the countryside lodge. No arguments.”
Emma stared, baffled. A trip? Now?
“But I told you at work I couldn’t go—”
“And we know why,” Sophie interrupted softly. “We’re ashamed we didn’t notice sooner.”
Emma paled.
“What do you mean?”
“We know everything, Emma. That you’re raising Charlotte alone after the divorce, that your ex hasn’t paid child support, that you’ve been scraping together school supplies while skipping meals—and never saying a word.”
Emma stayed silent, a lump rising in her throat.
“I… didn’t want to complain. I thought I could manage.”
“And you have,” Lucy cut in. “But managing isn’t the same as thriving. We’re your friends, Emma. Friends don’t let friends drown.”
“We’ve sorted everything,” Sophie continued. “The lodge stay is on us. We’ll cover food, travel, everything. All you need to bring is yourself and Charlotte.”
Emma looked down, uneasy. Accepting help was hard. But suffering in silence was worse.
“But… I don’t even have clothes—”
“You’ve got us,” Sophie said firmly. “Natalie brought some of her daughter’s old things—all in good condition, perfect for school.”
“We got you stationery too,” said James, stepping into the hall with a bag. “Pens, notebooks, everything Charlotte will need.”
“I… don’t know what to say.”
“Then don’t say anything,” Lucy hugged her. “Just believe this: you deserve more than just struggles. You deserve rest, care, and support.”
Two hours later, their cheerful group was on a coach heading out of London. Charlotte sat on Emma’s lap, clutching her new backpack. Emma gazed out the window, gripping the thermos of tea, and for the first time in months, she felt warmth in her chest.
She hadn’t been lucky with her husband. But as it turned out, she’d been incredibly lucky with the people around her.
