Just My Fate
“Mum, what are you doing here?” gasped Alina, spotting her mother in the maternity clinic.
“Oh, love, do you have an appointment today too? You didnt mention anything yesterday…” replied Sylvia, dropping her gaze awkwardly.
“Mum, this is for pregnant women. Why are you here?” Alina ran a hand over her own rounded belly.
“Sweetheart, I meant to tell you…” Sylvia glanced around, searching for the right words. “Well, I’m expecting too.”
… Sylvia had Alina at eighteen. The girls father showed no interest, paid paltry child supportonly after being dragged to court. But Sylvia doted on her daughter. She juggled two jobs, sewed late into the night. Friends would tut: “Why work yourself to the bone? Youre wasting your youth!” But Sylvia didnt listen. Her girl would want for nothing. The finest chocolates, trendy jackets, extravagant dollsAlina got it all. Sylvia denied herself everything, yet her daughter never felt deprived.
Alina grew accustomed to the best. Money meant littleshe wanted, she bought. She even managed a class trip to Spain. When uni applications rolled around, she picked the most prestigiousand expensivecourse. Sylvia didnt argue.
In her third year, Alina met Daniel. Older, nearly graduated. Sylvia liked him instantlysteady, sensible. “Finally, a reliable man,” she thought. Even if Alina had a baby, she wouldnt be alone.
And so it happened. Alina fell pregnant. Daniel proposed straightaway. They had a lavish weddinghalf paid by his parents, half by Sylvia, who even threw in a honeymoon to Cornwall.
“Dan, lets go for a walk,” Alina suggested one afternoon.
“Sure. Lovely weather, and that new café opened nearby. Fancy a bite?” He grinned, stroking her bump.
They strolled through the park, fed the pigeons, then stopped at the café. The moment they sat, Alina paled.
“Whats wrong?” Daniel frowned.
“Mum,” she muttered.
Two tables away sat Sylvia with a stranger.
“Oh, right!” Daniel turned.
Sylvia spotted them, offering a sheepish smile.
“Lets say hello. Whos that with her?” Daniel began to rise.
“No. I dont even want to look!” Alina bolted outside.
Daniel paid and caught up. On the pavement, Alina was already confronting her mother:
“Whos *that*? Have you forgotten youre about to be a grandmother?”
“Alina, darling, youre grown. I raised youdont I deserve a life too?”
Daniel tactfully intervened: “Everything alright, Sylvia?”
“Oh, Daniel, its fine”
“Lets *go*!” Alina dragged him away.
Alina had always assumed her mother belonged solely to her. The idea of Sylvia with a man? Unthinkable. Yet, Sylvia *hadnt* datedterrified of her daughters reaction.
Until two years ago, when her boss, Edward, started pursuing her. Sylvia had fancied him for ages but never acted. When he showed interest, she caved.
They began seeing each other. Edward even asked her to move in. Sylvia hesitated but eventually agreed. The problem? Telling Alina. And now this disastrous run-in.
Then Sylvia discovered she was pregnant. At forty-threelate, yes. But abortion? Never. Edward was overjoyedchildless, hed longed for a son or daughter.
After the café, Alina stopped answering calls. Updates came only through Daniel. Thenanother awkward clinic encounter. After that, radio silence. Blocked numbers, ignored texts.
Sylvia learned of her granddaughters birth from her son-in-law.
“Girl, 53 cm, 7 lbs!” Daniel announced.
“Congratulations! Can we visit? Id love to see her,” Sylvia whispered, near tears.
“Ill talk to Alina…”
But she refused outright. Sylvia fretted, though doctors warned hersix months along, stress wasnt advised.
Four months later, she had a girl. She texted Alina: *You have a sister now.* Silence. Only Daniel sent flowers and called.
Years passed. The girls grew. Alina and Daniel named theirs Sophie. Sylvia and Edward chose Emily, after her gran. Daniel occasionally sent photos: *First tooth!* or *Shes walking!* Sylvia hoped Alina would soften by Sophies first day of school. But nostill stubborn. As if she had any real reason to be cross.
On Sophies seventh birthday, Sylvia called Daniel:
“Bring Sophie to ours. Wed love to see her.”
“Ill try…”
That evening, Daniel relayed the invite.
“No,” Alina snapped.
“But shes your mother. Emilys your sister,” he reasoned.
“She betrayed me. And I dont want to see that girl.”
So they livedside by side, yet apart. Sylvia and Edward in a countryside cottage, Alina and Daniel in a suburban estate. Sometimes, through mutual friends, Alina heard snippets: *Sylvias in hospital*, *Emilys got a fever*. Deep down, she ached to hug her mum like old times. But jealousy always won.
“Daniel, we still need hair clips and indoor shoes for Sophie,” Alina said over dinner.
“Plenty of time. Hard to believe shes seven already…”
“Mum, can I skip piano today?” Sophie burst into the kitchen.
“No! We moved *here* for that school!” Alina said sternly.
Just like Sylvia once had, she gave her daughter every advantage.
First day of school. Daniel took leave to walk Sophie in. A trek, but worth itthe best bilingual academy in town.
Assembly, speeches, then
“Class 1A!” the teacher announced.
“Thats us!” Alina whispered, guiding Sophie forward.
Then, in the crowd, she spotted her mother. Their eyes met.
A beatthen Alina crumbled, rushing into Sylvias arms. Tears, long held back, spilled freely as Sylvia held her tightjust like childhood. And in that moment, every grudge melted away, as if it had never existed.
