**Diary Entry 12th September**
No good tale is complete without love.
Eight-year-old Emily walked home from school when an unbearable longing to see her mum took hold. Instead of heading back to her dads house in the village, she turned toward the bus stop, waited, and boarded the next one.
*Why did Mum leave Dad? Hes so good to me. I did live with her once, but shed leave me alone, bring home that bloke, Darren, both of them drunk. Even though Dad and Gran are lovely, I still miss her.*
Emily stepped off the bus and made her way to her mums flat. There, she spotted Sarah slumped on a bench outside, clearly worse for wear.
Oi, love, whered you come from? Sarah slurred, pulling her into a loose hug.
Missed you, Mum, Emily admitted, hugging back.
They exchanged a few words before Sarah cut in.
Em, you got any money?
Only enough for the bus back.
That it? Whatd you come for, then? I need cashdont you get it?
Mum, I dont have any, Emily whispered.
Then sod off back to your dad. Had your visit, now clear out. With that, Sarah spotted some woman down the road and stumbled after her.
Emily stood frozen, a bitter ache swelling in her chest. She finally understoodher mum didnt want her. Only Dad and Gran did. Blinded by tears, she wandered the wrong way, mistaking a small copse for the woods, stumbling deeper until panic set in. She was lost.
—
James had met Sarah at the village hall dance. Shed come with mates from the next town over, and hed been smitten the moment he saw her. One dance led to another, and before long, they were inseparable.
All autumn, hed ridden his motorbike to see her. When winter bit, he proposed.
Sarah, lets get married. Sick of riding back and forth. Move in with meMums dead kind, youll get on with her.
She didnt need convincing. Shed wanted out of her dead-end town, where no decent bloke would look twice at her.
Yeah, alright, shed said, and James was over the moon. A wife as pretty as Sarah? Lucky man.
At first, things were good. His mum, Margaret, treated Sarah like her own. A year later, little Emily arrived, Margarets pride and joy. But soon, James noticed Sarah chafing at motherhood.
Shell come round, son, Margaret assured him. Just baby blues. Give it time.
But when Emily turned three, Sarah changed. Nights out with mates, coming home plastered. The monotony of family life bored her. James held on, hoping shed snap out of itbut it only got worse.
Off to Nats birthday, she announced one evening.
Course, love, James agreed, thinking a night out might help.
She didnt come home. By morning, she staggered in, still drunk, collapsed onto the bed, and slept till noon.
James hadnt known about Sarahs drinking problem. Back in her town, everyone knew shed inherited it from her own mum. No one had told himwhy would they? He never went there after the wedding.
Emily grew up with little attention from her mum. James began questioning if he even loved Sarah anymore. Then one day, she vanished for a week.
Dad, wheres Mum? Emily would ask. I miss her.
Gone back to her town, love.
Bring her home, please?
So, on his day off, James drove over. Sarahs mum answered the door.
Shes at Darrens. That house there.
Inside, a rowdy group was drinking. Sarah was perched on Darrens lap, laughing too loudly.
Spotting James, she scrambled up.
Jamie, love! Its not what it looks like! You came for memissed you!
For a week, she stayed sober. James wrestled with forgiving herfor Emilys sake. But he didnt understand the grip drink had on her. Ten days later, she was at it again, screaming in the street:
Im sick of the lot of you! You, your bloody mum, always on at me! And Emily? Dont need herold enough now. Done pretending to be some perfect mum!
That was the end. James wouldnt let his girl grow up with this. Sarah left, but two weeks later, she returned, snatched Emily while he was out, and shoved Margaret aside when she tried to stop her.
Next day, James stormed over. Sarah refused to hand Emily back, so he went straight to social services. When they arrived, they found Sarah passed out on Darren, Emily staring blankly out the window.
They took Emily away that day. James filed for divorce and full custody. By then, Emily had started Year One.
One evening, he came home, calling out:
Mum! Starving. Em, look what I got you!
Margaret laid the table while Emily barrelled into him, giggling as he spun her. Margaret watched, tense, until James nodded. She relaxed, pulling treats from the fridge.
Mum, slow downwell burst! James laughed.
But she fussed, thinking*Thirty-three, and now raising a daughter alone.*
Later, she asked, Howd it go in court?
James smirked. What could her lawyer say? Sarah turned up drunk, couldnt string two words together. Judge didnt hesitateEmily stays with me. Rights terminated.
Margaret sighed. About time. What kind of mother is she, always pickled?
Emily was happy with Dad and Gran. She rarely thought of Sarah now. Margaret knew a girl needed her mumbut not *that* kind of mum.
—
At twenty-six, Beatrice loved the outdoors, often hiking alone for mushrooms or berries. Shed gotten lost before, even spent nights in the woodsunfazed. Her grandad, George, a former ranger, had taught her to build shelters, start fires.
One September afternoon, she wandered deep into the forest, distracted by a bounty of mushrooms. Only when shadows lengthened did she realise*Lost again.*
Right. Rest, make a shelter. Someonell come. (Shed told her mum where she was going.)
The air grew chilly. She lit a fire, muttering, Hope it doesnt rain. Then*crunch*.
A small girl stood there, tear-streaked, shivering.
Whore you? Beatrice asked.
E-Emily Im lost, she hiccuped.
No use crying. Where dyou live? Beatrice tugged off her jumper and wrapped it around her.
By the fire, Emily spilled everything.
Dad and Granll be looking They dont know I went to Mums.
Right. Well find our way tomorrow.
At dawn, they followed the distant hum of traffic.
Hear that, Em? Roads close.
Meanwhile, James had torn the village apart. The constable found Sarah, who barely recalled Emilys visit. James nearly hit herthe constable stopped him.
Dont, mate. Not worth it.
Then, a car slowed beside Beatrice and Emily.
Daddy! Emily shrieked, darting to him. Beatrice hung back.
Who the hell are you? James snapped.
Dad, dont! She saved me!
Grudgingly, he took them to the station. After statements, sunlight spilled over them. Guilt pricked James.
Ill drive you home, he said. But first, come ours. Mumll feed you.
Beatrice hesitated.
Im sorry, James added. Spoke out of turn.
She smiled. Emily had told her everything. And something in Jamess eyesthis wasnt over.
It wasnt. Six months later, they married. No one was happier than Emily.
Funny how things work out. Lost in the woods, found on the roadand no good tales complete without love.
**Lesson learned:** Sometimes the wrong path leads you right where youre meant to be.
