You want to tie the knot? Hold your horses! Your bumps already poking out, so youre an adult, love! mum said, not missing a beat.
Emma spotted her own daughters hopeful glow. Shed been dreaming of a family for a while, but the words never came out. The girl, naturally slim, couldnt hide the swelling belly any longer. Shed just turned seventeen.
First thing they did was find out who the babys father was.
Emma had been smitten with Daniel for ages. The first September of Year7 shed seen him marching into class, one of the first faces she noticed. The boys stretched out over the summer, changed a bit, even started looking older, but they were still just lads.
Their schoolbags flapped between rows of desks, theyd be late together, skip lessons for a laugh, share jokesjust the usual school life.
Daniel was taller than most, quicker, seemed to excel at everything. Thats when Emma fell headoverheels. It was a onesided crush. She kept quietno point shouting about itbut he barely noticed her. Then, one day, he did. They went for a walk
She couldnt keep her cheeky secret any longer. The parents of the two youngsters cut a quick wedding deal. Emma was over the moon.
Family life kicked off in the motherinlaws house. Daniel was the oldest of three. His two sisters were still in Year5 and Year7, so he had to start earning.
Look, youve managed to knock up a child, so act like an adult. Weve got two daughters already, and were not planning to support your wife and baby! his mum snapped.
For Emma, adult life began in earnest. She had to ditch her studies, and not even a cleaning job was on the table. She spent her days tidying the big house because she wasnt earning.
All the household chores fell on her. Daniels sisters laughed, Now we dont have to wash the dishes, mop the floor, or tidy up. They even tried to make life harder: leaving extra dirty dishes, crumbs on the floor, random stains on cupboards and walls. Emma understood the sabotage, it was tough, but there was no one to complain to.
Daniel went to work, never bothered about the chaos at home. He hadnt even settled into a proper relationship yet, and honestly, he wasnt keen on Emma. Hed married under his parents pressure. Emma tried to talk things over with her own mother, but that led nowhere.
You want to get married? Patience, dear, her mum would say. Your bellys already above your nose, so youre grown!
Emma wasnt thrilled with the marriage. Shed have run away if it werent for the baby on the way, but now shed delivered the child easily, yet life didnt get any easier.
No help with the baby, and the chores never stopped. Daniel came home later and later, sometimes not at all.
Emma guessed he was out with someone else; she even had a hunch who. Family life grew uglier by the day. She lived in the motherinlaws house like a servant, wept at night, and wondered about her future.
One day Daniels sister-inlaw, Aunt Irene, turned up at the house. To Emma, Irene seemed a woman with a very hard edge, watching everything in the house with a quiet stare and speaking little.
Emma tried to do everything right, kept up with the chores. She managed, but Irene always found something to nitpick and complained to her sister. Meanwhile Daniel was out on dates without a hint of shame. Their mother argued, but could do nothing.
You married me without my consent! Now youll have to live with my wife, Daniel said and walked out.
Irene watched everything. Two weeks dragged slowly but passed, and she began packing to leave.
What are you doing here? You havent been around for five years, the motherinlaw muttered under her breath as Irene gathered her things. What are you sniffing for?
In the morning everyone headed to work. Emma offered to see Irene off.
Ill see you off, then we can take a stroll with little Mary, she said.
Ive been watching your family. Youre exhausted, those dark circles under your eyes how do you put up with all this, love? And you know about Dan? Irene asked.
I know.
Want to get out of here? Pack your things, come with me, get a break.
But what about going back? They wont let me in again, and where would I go?
Well sort that. Pack, Ill push the cart around the garden while we wait.
Ive got no money for a ticket.
Dont worry about that. I have no ticket either. A van will be here in two hours. Hurry, dont forget anything. You probably wont need to return. Ill fill you in on the way. Its only a threehour drive.
The van pulled up at the gate of a modest house, nicer than the motherinlaws place. The driver nudged the vehicle into the yard and got out.
Hes a neighbour. I cant drive myself, so I sometimes ask him. If you want to get a drivers licence, Ill help. Make yourself at home, settle in. Your rooms on the right.
Half an hour later Irene began her story.
My sister and I never really talked much. I had a daughter who went off to university and later died in a mountainriver accident. Her friends were thrillseekers; she loved the rush.
Her first trek ended in tragedy. After that my husband left me; I was left alone. I came to my sister for help and to sort out the inheritance.
She told me there was no room. Daniel married, you, your child, his sisters everything now hinges on you. They dont understand that.
My sisters used to having everything done for her. She dumped everything on you. Dan doesnt love you. Why does he stay? I know everything. No one will help you, not even your own parents.
I wanted to leave the house to Daniel, thought wed have a family, a child, but he Ive decided. Bear with me, itll all be yours. I think its time to file for divorce.
I have about a year left, I said, well manage. Call me Aunt Irene. Get used to having the house to yourself.
What will people say
Dont think about that. Theyve got their own lives, and you shouldnt give them yours. Be strong; you have a daughter.
Aunt Irene lived a little over a year. Emma divorced Daniel, and he remarried quickly. Their relatives turned up at Irenes funeral, none of them hiding their displeasure at her sisters choices. Daniel even tried to rekindle things, but the road back was gone.
Now Emma lives in her own home with her little girl. She finally got her drivers licence, studies parttime at university, and most importantly, shes learning to live on her ownand she loves it!
Thats how life can turn out. Inheritances go not to those who are greedy, but to those with a good heart. And thats fair, isnt it?
What do you think about all this? Drop your thoughts in the comments, give it a like.
