Ethan, are you kidding me? Emily shouted, her voice echoing off the kitchen walls. Youre heading back to your mothers again?
What do you suggest, throw her into the cold, without light or water? Ethan snapped, rummaging through his backpack. Would you do that to your own parents?
My parents would never treat me like that, Emily replied. They know I have a family of my own and they dont drag me into these reckless ventures. Your mother she began, but Ethan cut her off.
Dont sermonise me, he said, waving a hand. You know I have to help.
I understand, but it still hurts, Emily said quietly. Its not just that the boys will soon forget their fathers name; its that you never try to teach her to be independent.
She brewed that porridge herselflet her eat it, Ethan retorted. Choose where your family belongs: out in the village or here with me.
Emily turned on her heel and went to the bedroom. Within a minute the hallway door clicked shut, and Ethan left, leaving her alone with their two sons, to whom she had promised a family walk in the park that afternoon.
Their father had once once again fled their household, and the burden fell squarely on Emilys shoulders.
Two years earlier things had been quite different. Emily remembered the day clearly. She, Ethan, and her motherinlaw had driven to the countryside to visit her parents, taking her friend Poppy along so she wouldnt be alone. Poppy got along well with the inlaws, so no one objected.
While they were sipping tea and nibbling biscuits beneath a grapevine pergola, Poppy blurted out a brilliant idea that would turn Emilys life upsidedown.
Oh, how lovely it would be to live in a private house at my age, Poppy breathed, inhaling deeply. Peace, quiet, fresh air
Emilys mother simply smiled. At first she thought Poppy was just dreaming out loud.
Its nice to be a guest, the matchmaker interjected, but a house without a husband is just an empty shell. Its not a holiday. Theres always something to fix, something to mend. And you, Poppy, arent cut out for running a home.
Poppy pursed her lips, though she had no real reason to take offence. She wasnt lazy, but she seemed perpetually exhausted, even when she was doing nothing.
Im not planning to tend the garden or manage livestock, she replied. Ill be content with flowers and trees, sitting in the shade, watching the beauty. My grandchildren will love it. Ill even buy them an inflatable pool so they can splash on the grass instead of choking on diesel fumes.
Flowers and trees need care too, Emilys mother warned gently. Youll still have to dust a room once a week, mop the floor every couple of days, vacuum, then relax.
Do we keep a household out of love for labour? the inlaw scoffed. In theory it sounds noble, but in practice a house is a bottomless pit.
The boiler broke today, the roof will need a patch tomorrow, the fence the day after that. All of it costs money. Thats where were always scrambling.
Never mind, Poppy said stubbornly, glancing at Ethan. Im not alone.
Emily raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Persuading the motherinlaw proved harder than convincing a ravenous goose not to eat cabbage.
From that day Poppy stopped arguing with the inlaws and wore a mysterious MonaLisa smile. Six months later she proudly showed off her brandnew home, inhaling the faint scent of roses from the neighbours garden. The house was indeed comfortable.
See? I told you I could make it, she declared, confidence oozing from every word.
But happiness was shortlived. First Poppy asked her son to help with some cosmetic repairs; he lingered for half a year because Ethan only visited on weekends.
Emily grumbled but endured, believing the renovations would eventually finish and life would return to normal.
When the paint finally dried on the fence and fresh wallpaper covered the walls, the todo list only grew. The electricity was cut for almost two days, leaving the house without light or water. Ethan rushed to his mothers, who was in tears, bearing bottles of water and a sack of biscuits in a desperate attempt to calm her.
Everythings fallen apart! No airconditioning, no shower Im not living, Im surviving, Poppy lamented.
Later, Poppy took in a stray dog, only to discover it suffered kidney trouble. The nearest vet was in the city, so Ethan had to drive it there.
Well, the boys ill, but at least we have a guard dog now, Poppy muttered, trying to soothe the animal.
A few weeks later Emily had to clean the cars interior after the guard rattled the vehicle terribly. The dog also needed special food, which wasnt sold in any rural pet shop, so Ethan became the courier.
I wouldnt abandon a mother with a sick animal, he told Emily when she accused him of shirking responsibility. You know how miserable she gets, then she blames herself.
Right, miserable. The dog gets pity, but people get none, Emily retorted.
Ethan spent every weekend with his mother and often snuck in after work on weekdays, sometimes even staying overnight at the inlaws house.
Ill be back soon, youll be asleep anyway, he would say. Then Ill get up early and drive straight to work.
Emily waited for the pressure to ease, but it never did. The inlaws roof leaked, the septic tank clogged, snow piled up, grass grew wild She refused to maintain the house herself, unable even to call a tradesperson.
What if its a scam? What if thieves break in and strip three more skins? Poppy fretted. Ethan, youre a man, men are feared. Find someone reliable and be present.
Emilys patience snapped when the power went out again, this time late autumn. It lasted long enough to send Poppy into a panic.
Ill buy Mum a generator tomorrow, Ethan said in a matteroffact tone.
Emilys eyes narrowed. From our pocket?
Its not cheap, Ethan shrugged. Mums pension is all thats left after she sold the flat. She lives on a single pension now.
Great. So now were funding not just ourselves but Mums dream house too. Isnt that a bit much? Emily asked.
Ethan waved his hand. Stop. Their powers terrible. Do you want her to freeze?
Emily rolled her eyes, swallowed the bitter truth, and found herself alone in their bedroom, contemplating divorce. Were doing okay overall, arent we No, divorce is too extreme. I need another plan, something to keep me sane, she thought.
A week later she rose early, dressed quietly, and was about to slip out when Ethan stirred.
Youre up already? he murmured, rubbing his eyes.
Visiting my parents, Emily said, checking herself in the mirror.
My parents? Today? I promised Mum Id prune the hedges, Ethan replied, frowning.
You didnt discuss that with me. I have my own parents too, and they need help as well.
But you have two of them! Ethan protested.
Old age doesnt cancel responsibilities. From now on well alternate: one weekend for your mother, the next for mine, Emily declared, stepping into the hallway.
Right. I havent forgotten the chore list on the fridge. Dont neglect the kids homework, and make them pizza for lunchthey asked for it, Ethan called after her.
She left, feeling his heavy gaze but never turning back. On the drive to her parents cottage she realised shed been neglecting urgent matters for too long.
The visit was brief. Emily returned to the second floor, rested, read a novel on the garden swing, and recalled childhood antics over a leisurely lunch. She lay on the bed, no longer gulping food in a frantic rush.
There might never be a perfect solution. Perhaps Poppy will never sell her house or solve her problems without her sons help. But Emily now has a slice of personal space she refuses to surrendera small victory in the battle for her own sanity and fairness.
And that, she realised, is what keeps a life from unraveling: carving out a little room for yourself, no matter how modest, and remembering that looking after yourself enables you to look after others.
