**Diary Entry**
Nat, you wont believe what Ive just heard! Irina, usually so unflappable, sounded utterly shaken. Its beyond comprehension.
Whats happened? Natalie asked, taken aback by her friends distress.
I cant say over the phone. Im nearbyshall I pop round?
Of course, come in, Natalie replied, curiosity piqued.
***
Well, out with it! Natalie pressed as she ushered Irina to the table, where a freshly baked apple pie, two delicate china cups, and a pot of herbal tea sat waiting.
I dont even know where to begin, Irina murmured, distracted.
Start at the beginning, Natalie suggested gently.
The beginning? Irina paused, gathering her thoughts, then asked, Do you remember Dr. Evelyn Thompson from our old paediatric clinic?
Thompson? Of course! A brilliant doctorshe saved my sons life, Natalie exclaimed. And not just mine! I could tell you a dozen stories of how she diagnosed children perfectly, spared them so much suffering. People phoned her at home, called her in emergenciesshe never refused anyone. A wonderful soul, a doctor through and through.
Exactly, Irina nodded. I owe her my daughters health. Without her sharp eye, who knows what mightve happened? Disability was a real risk.
But why bring her up now? Natalie frowned. Shes been retired for years. Last I heard, she sang in the church choir. I saw her there once.
Sang, Irina corrected softly. Shes gone.
What? But I spoke to her just recentlysmiling, warm as ever, those kind eyes twinkling She didnt seem ill. Though, at her age
Nearly eighty. And she was perfectly healthy.
Then how?
You wont believe it, Irina said bitterly. Her own children did it. Pushed her into the grave. Literally.
No! Thats impossible! Natalie gasped.
It happened, Irina replied firmly, her face hardening, a flicker of helpless disbelief in her eyes.
***
Evelyn Thompsonnée Evelyn Carterhad married a young RAF officer fresh out of medical school. Naturally, she followed her husband, James, to his first posting, working as a doctor wherever they were stationed.
They moved often, living out of suitcases, until finally settling in a cathedral city. Evelyn always workedsmall towns desperately needed doctors. Eventually, she joined the local paediatric practice. By then, they had two children: Jessica, her fathers double, and Charlie, the spitting image of her.
James served; Evelyn held the fort, raising the children and tending to the communitys little ones.
Only military wives understand the weight of that life. Evelyn carried it allchildren, home, workplus Jamess difficult temperament. Yet she never complained, always smiling, effortlessly managing. No one guessed the strain at home. Outwardly, they were the perfect family: a spacious three-bedroom house, a car, comfortable.
Evelyn was adorednot just as a doctor but as a warm, capable woman. Charlie, the cheeky charmer, was the life of every party but hopeless at school, strumming his guitar and chasing girls. Jessica, though? A straight-A student, mature beyond her years but distant, clashing with Charlie. Evelyn worried shed struggle with relationships.
She was right.
***
Their stability shattered overnight. One Sunday morning, James walked out without a word. The children were nearly grown.
Evelyn had suspected his infidelity but stayed silent, weathering it for the childrens sake. She couldnt bear them witnessing the ugliness. So she pretended ignorance.
Emboldened, James stopped hiding his affairsthen packed his bags, tossed a casual See you, and moved in with a widow down the street. The town buzzed with gossip, but no one understood why. Soon after, he retired, took his new family, and vanished.
***
Evelyn was devastated. Twenty years togetherno small thing.
Theyd started with nothing, moved constantly, even lived in barracks when the children were small. Shed juggled babies alone while James was deployed. Once they started school, shed returned to work.
Infidelity had never crossed her mind in their youth. But with grey in their hair, she felt an invisible wall rise between themuntil she saw it embodied in another woman.
She stayed for the children. Later, they blamed her for driving their father away.
Jamesrarely home, thus idolised. Shed taught them that herself.
***
An unspoken war began.
The children dismissed her, treated her as worthless. Every word, every gesture was met with scorn or silence.
She endured, hoping theyd mature.
They never did.
Jessica left for university in London, married a businessman, and bought a flat in their hometownnot to live in, but to rent out. She visited twice a year, barely acknowledging Evelyn or Charlie.
Strangers.
***
Years passed. Evelyn grew used to Jessicas absence, pouring her love into her young patients.
Then Charlie, her darling boy, unraveled.
By forty, hed burned through two marriages and two children. His wives, tired of his laziness and drinking, kicked him out. Where did he go? To Evelyn, of course.
Another mother mightve disciplined him. Not Evelyn. She blamed herselffor depriving him of a father, for his failures.
Charlie spiraled: drinking, fleeing child support
Goodness, Natalie murmured as Irina recounted this. I had no idea.
It gets worse, Irina said grimly.
After Charlie fled, Evelyndevoted to her grandchildren and fiercely principledwent to court and took over his child support payments.
Why? Natalie gasped.
So the children wouldnt suffer, and Charlie wouldnt face penalties.
Thats madness.
Yes. But Evelyn couldnt do otherwise. She worked double shifts, never refusing a call, even after retirement. Then Charlie returnedwith a new girlfriendand moved in. Evelyn became their maid. They drank, raged Yet outside, she remained composed, smiling.
Until the day they threw her out.
Neighbors heard the shouting, found her on the doorstep. She refused help, certain Charlie would relent. He didnt. For days, she slept in the stairwell. Finally, neighbors tracked down Jessica, who took her to the flatthen left without a word.
***
For months, Evelyn lived in peace. She joined the church choir.
Then Charlie turned up drunk, demanded money, took her pension card.
What will I live on? she whispered.
Figure it out, he sneered.
She rationed food for three monthsuntil Jessica stormed in.
Why havent you paid the rent? Now there are fines!
Darling, I couldntCharlie has my card
You gave him everything? Fine. Live with him, then.
Jessica dumped her at Charlies. He slammed the door.
A friend found Evelyn sobbing on the steps and took her in.
Thank goodness, Natalie breathed.
Briefly, Irina said. Six months later, the friend called Jessica, furious. Sort your mother out.
Jessica placed Evelyn in a locked psychiatric wardno phone, no contact.
Four months later, she died.
Jessica cremated her, took the ashes, and left. Charlie, when asked, just slurred about missing the easy life.
***
No one knows where Dr. Evelyn Thompson rests. But shes rememberedher kindness, her tragic end.
Some blame James. Others, the children. A few say Evelyn failed them.
The rarest whisper: Nothing happens without reason.
