When Fate Gets It Wrong
After finishing teacher training college, Marianne returned to her hometown village to teach at the same school shed once attended. She loved her colleagues, the quiet charm of the village, and shed always missed her family and childhood home.
Since childhood, shed been best friends with her neighbour, Juliethey were total opposites. Marianne was calm and thoughtful, while Julie was wild, sharp-tongued, and never showed much respect for her elders. They were in the same class, and Julie was always being compared to her well-behaved friend.
*”Why should I care about Marianne? Ive got my own head on my shoulders,”* Julie would snap.
*”A heads no good without a brain inside it,”* the headmaster, Mr. Thompson, once shot back in Year 11 after Julie was dragged to his office yet again.
*”Whats it this time?”* he sighed.
Miss Harris, their form tutora strict but respected teacherlooked near tears as she explained, *”Julie told me I smell like a grave and should retire. And here I am, still trying to teach her manners!”*
Mr. Thompson was speechless, but Julie just batted her lashes and said, *”I never said thatshes making it up!”* He let her go. What else could he do?
After school, Marianne went to university while Julie scraped into nursing collegenot because she cared, but because it was the only place thatd take her. Shed coasted through school copying Mariannes work.
Julie was stunninglong dark hair, perfect figurebut she hated her job at the hospital. She was rude to patients, especially the elderly.
*”These old bags should be six feet under, not wasting NHS money,”* shed sneer, leaving her colleagues stunned.
*”Whyd you even become a nurse if you hate it?”* theyd ask.
*”None of your business,”* shed snap.
Complaints piled up until the ward manager overheard her reducing an old woman to tears. He fired her on the spot.
*”Youre done, Julie. Medicines not for youand Ill make sure every hospital in the county knows it.”*
Back in the city, Julie hunted for a rich husband, but luck wasnt on her side. Men lost interest fast once they saw the real her. She never felt guiltyshed been raised that way. After three years, she gave up and went home.
*”Hey Marianne, long time no speak!”* she chirped over the phone. *”Guess what? Im moving back. Your mum works at the clinic, right? Put in a word for me, yeah? See you soon!”*
The moment she arrived, Julie barged into Mariannes cottage.
*”So, hows life with the village brats and those boring teachers?”* she teased.
Marianne didnt bite. She poured tea, set out biscuits and jam, and changed the subject. *”Later. Tell me why youre backyou always hated it here.”*
*”Changed my mind. So, what about you? Found a husband yet?”*
*”Actually, yes,”* Marianne smiled. *”Tom proposed. Were getting married in two months.”*
Julie snorted. *”Who is it? The geography teacher or some tractor boy? Bet hes got something wrong with him.”*
*”Toms a farmerowns land, livestock, employs half the village. Hes wonderful.”*
Julie choked on her tea. *”Oh, come on! The only decent bloke for miles, and hes yours? Must be desperate.”* She smirked, eyeing Mariannes curvessoft, but lovely.
Just then, a deep voice rang out. *”Evening, love. Whos this?”*
Julie spun aroundand froze. A tall, handsome man in designer sportswear stood in the doorway. Her stomach twisted with envy.
*This cant be Mariannes fiancé.*
*”Im Julie,”* she purred, flipping her hair. *”You must be Tom. Shes told me *all* about you.”*
*”Dont oversell me,”* Tom laughed, kissing Mariannes cheek.
They chatted, but Julie barely listened. All she could think was: *He should be mine.*
*”Mum, have you *seen* Tom?”* Julie hissed at home. *”Why didnt you tell me some hot farmer was here? He belongs with *me*, not that plain little mouse!”*
Her mum patted her cheek. *”Darling, of *course* youre the better match. Well make sure he sees it. Just need the right moment.”*
That moment came at a birthday party for their old classmate, Sarah. Marianne felt ill that morning but insisted Tom go without her.
Julies eyes lit up when he walked in alone. She glued herself to his side, refilling his drink until he was dizzy. When he staggered outside, she “helped” him into a friends carstraight to her place.
Tom woke up horrified, head pounding, Julie smirking beside him. *”No this didnt happen.”*
*”Oh, it *did*,”* she giggled.
He fled. But Mariannes mum barred him at the door. *”How *could* you? Shes gone. And Julie sent her *photos*.”*
Tom checked his phonethere they were, tangled in bed. He smashed it against the wall.
Julie cornered him days later. *”Hate me all you want,”* she whispered. *”But our babys innocent.”*
*”What baby?!”*
*”That night wasnt *nothing*, Tom.”*
Guilt won. They married quietlyno white dress, no fuss. But their house was ice-cold. Then one day, Tom overheard Julies phone call: *”Sarah, *help*. There *is* no baby. Fake a miscarriage for me?”*
He filed for divorce.
Sarah, sick of Julies cruelty, finally told him the truth. *”Tom Marianne had a son. *Your* son.”*
He drove straight to her grans cottage. There she washanging laundry, a blue-eyed toddler playing at her feet.
*”Anthony,”* she whispered.
Tom dropped to his knees. *”Forgive me. Ill never leave you again.”*
She did. And years later, with two more children laughing in their home, neither regretted it.
