“Leave and never return.”
Emily stared at James with eyes bright with anticipation. “I saw an advertisement last nightthere’s a threebedroom flat for sale exactly where we want, in the right neighbourhood. We could afford it, couldn’t we? When we sell the house we could help Lily pay off her mortgage. Let’s go see it.”
James barely glanced at her, sighing wearily. “Not today. I was up until midnight finishing a report yesterday, and Ill be late again tonight.” He gulped the last of his coffee, grabbed the car keys and a folder of papers, and walked out.
Emily exhaled in disappointment, unwilling to argue. Lately James had been home almost neverlate nights, even weekends. Still, his salary was good, and Emily longed to move closer to their daughter. They had scrimped for years, depositing everything James earned into a savings account while surviving on his mother Margaret’s pension and Emily’s wages. Emily worked as the deputy manager of the village community centre and ran a dance class on the side. It was tough, but living in the town beside Lily and teaching at a sizable cultural centre had always been her dream.
Emily and James had met in the county town when James was in his final year at university and Emily was studying at a dance college. Their love was swift; as soon as James got his degree they married and moved to his familys village.
Emily quit her studies after only one year, but she never regretted ither husband was now her lawful partner, and she was certain they would share a long, happy life. Yet the marriage hit a snag almost at once. Shortly after moving in with James, he was called up for a years military service. Emily was already upset at the looming separation, and then Margaret, Jamess mother, arrived. From the moment she saw that her son had come home with a wife, she despised Emily. She barely spoke to James, merely reminding him, You promised! Emily tried to win her over, taking on any task, but nothing softened Margarets heart.
Emily pressed, Why didnt you call your mother before we got married? What did she promise you? Why does she hate me?
James explained that two years earlier his sister had died at seventeen after a reckless romance with a former inmate. The lovers drunken driving had killed her, and the man went back to prison for a long term. After the funeral, Margaret forced James to swear never to marry without her consent. He broke that promise, and Margarets resentment grew.
James was torn about letting Emily live with his mother, but Emily declared she would stay, determined to win Margaret over. Within weeks, Margarets hostility melted. Emily proved hardworking, cheerful, and kind. Though Margaret still clung to her grievances, she could not deny that Emily was a worthy partner for her son. Emily also confided that her own mother had died eleven years earlier, and her father had remarried a woman with two young children. The stepmother, after the marriage, told Emily she was now an adult and must fend for herself. Emily explained this to Margaret, insisting she hadnt married James for any benefit other than love.
Moved, Margaret embraced Emily, tears of both sorrow and relief slipping down her cheeks. The gesture lightened the weight Margaret had carried for years.
A year later James returned, took a job at the local council office, and Emily became the organiser and head of the dance program at the community centre. Their salaries were modest, and soon Lily was born. Money was tight, but Margaret helpedshe looked after Lily and never complained. Eventually James moved to a larger firm, began travelling for work, and climbed the corporate ladder, his earnings multiplying. The modest village hall was replaced by a spacious town cultural centre, and Emily was appointed its manager, yet she kept her beloved dance class, leading local girls to competition victories. Their life grew comfortable: a nice car, a renovated home, holidays by the sea.
Everything was fine until Lily left for university in the city and married there. Emily missed her daughter and, recalling her own dream of working in a grand cultural venue, suggested they save to buy a flat in the city, sell their house, and help Lily finish her mortgage. James thought it over, agreed, noting the firm had a branch in the city, but warned that their whole income would have to be deposited into a savings account while they lived off Margarets pension and Emilys earnings. The family agreed and began to save.
Life grew harder. Emily, never one to complain, endured the strain, though James started staying later and later at work, claiming extra responsibilities for higher pay. Emily trusted him, but the growing distance gnawed at her. When she timidly voiced her concern, James snapped, Im working from dawn to dusk to earn more. Do you want me to stay home all day? Decide what you wantme by your side or a flat in the city? Im not going to be your servant. Emily swallowed her hurt and tried to bear it.
One night, after James arrived home at half past one, Emily finally said she no longer wanted to move, that she would be content staying as they were if only he would be home in the evenings. She wanted them to share life together again. James listened, changed into his nightclothes, and went to bed silently facing the wall. The next night he was late again.
Then James vanished. He left for work in the morning and never returned. His phone was switched off, and Emily could not reach any of his colleagues. Panicking, she called every hospital and morgue, but no one had information. That night she sat trembling on the kitchen floor, grief and fear mixing in her throat. Margaret sat beside her, eyes red from sleeplessness.
Dont worry, Mum, hell be found, Emily whispered, trying to convince herself as much as her motherinlaw.
A few hours later Emilys friend Claire, who she met on the bus, called out, Emily, you heading into town? Lets go together. You said you wanted to buy a new car, right? Maybe you could sell yours cheap?
Emily frowned. What are you talking about?
Claire answered, I heard James withdrew a large sum from his account at the Sainsburys cash desk a few days ago. I thought youd know. Emilys skin went cold; the money could have been the cause of whatever had happened.
She rushed to Jamess firm, only to learn from the receptionist that he had recently left. He had apparently taken another job, but no one knew where. Desperate, Emily filed a missingperson report. The police took her statement seriously and promised to search.
The next day an officer called her in. Why didnt you tell us you divorced three months ago? he asked, eyebrows raised. That changes everything. Did you find any of his documents at home? Did he take everything with him?
Emily stared, bewildered. The officer produced a copy of a divorce decree and a marriageregistration certificate. The world tilted. When she returned home and told Margaret, the older womans face turned ashen, hands covering her mouth. Im sorry, its my fault, Margaret whispered, voice shaking. James told me creditors would send summons in your name, so I hid them, hoping you wouldnt be upset. He promised to sort it out, said he knew a judge. I didnt know hed use that to force a divorce.
Did he really fake the divorce? Emily asked, her voice barely a whisper. Where is he now?
Margaret confessed that James had messaged her that morning, saying he was leaving with another woman and that they would soon marry. He had taken all the money, claiming it was his salary. I thought I could give the house to a care home and youd forgive me, she said, eyes welling. I never meant to hurt you.
Emily rose, stepped outside, and felt the cold bite of the night like ice inside her. She thought of the lilac bushes and birch trees they had planted by the fence years ago, now tall and sturdy, unlike the shattered marriage. She recalled winter days when James sledged little Lily down the lane and the time a piglet escaped the farm and the whole family chased it, laughter echoing. Tears fell, the emptiness in her heart overwhelming.
I wont let you go, Mum, Emily said firmly, turning back. James betrayed me, not you. I love you like a mother and know you never intended to hurt me. She embraced Margaret, both weeping.
Later that evening Emily and Margaret called Lily, explaining everything. Lily, horrified by her fathers betrayal, declared she would never forgive him. She then offered her mother and grandmother to move in with her, saying, Were expecting twins soon; well need help. Sell your house, come live with us. Our threebedroom flat will have room for everyone.
Emily and Margaret exchanged a look, tears turning to smiles. They agreed.
James did return once, trying to see Emily in the city, but Lily barred him from the flat. He had hoped for a reunion, but there was no one left to welcome himnot even his mother.
Through loss, betrayal, and hardship, Emily learned that love and trust must be earned, not taken for granted. She discovered strength in herself and in the bonds she forged with those who truly cared. The lesson lingered: when foundations crumble, rebuild them with honesty, patience, and the courage to let go of those who only bring pain.
