Wanting to marry? Youll have to wait. If your bellys already past your nose, youre an adult now, her mother said, barely caring. Margaret had noticed her daughters condition. Eleanor had been unsure how to tell her parents, but the growing roundness of her stomach gave her away. She had just turned seventeen.
It didnt take long to discover who the father would be.
Eleanor had liked Daniel for years. She first saw him at the start of September in Year 7, one of the first faces she remembered. The boys had stretched out over the summer, changed a little, even seemed a bit older, but they were still just boys.
Their school bags swung between rows of desks, they were late for classes, sometimes skipped lessons. Footrests, jokes, laughter ordinary school life.
Daniel was taller than everyone else, quicker, better at everything. Thats when Eleanor fell for him, silently, unrequitedly. She kept quiet, not shouting her feelings, while he barely noticed her. Then he finally did, and they began to spend time together.
Eleanor could no longer hide her condition. The parents of the two youngsters quickly arranged a wedding. Eleanor was overjoyed.
Married life began in the motherinlaws house. Daniel was the eldest of three children. His two sisters were still at school, in Year 5 and Year 7, so he had to start working.
Now youve shown you can make a child! Prove youre an adult. We have two daughters of our own, and we have no intention of supporting your wife and child! his father declared.
Eleanors adult life started then, too. She had to give up her studies; she wasnt even hired as a cleaner. She ended up cleaning the big house because she had no other work.
All household chores fell on her. Daniels sisters laughed; they no longer had to wash dishes, sweep floors, or tidy the home.
They even tried to make her life harder: extra dirty dishes, crumbs on the floor, random stains on cupboards and walls. Eleanor understood the sabotage, it was painful, but she had no one to complain to.
Daniel worked, indifferent to what happened at home. He hadnt even settled into a routine, and he didnt particularly like Eleanor.
Hed married under his parents pressure. Eleanor tried to talk with her own mother, but that yielded nothing.
Want to marry? Wait! Your bellys already past your nose, so youre an adult! the mother repeated.
Eleanor soon stopped feeling happy about her marriage. She might have run away if it werent for the baby on the way; she gave birth easily, but life did not improve.
No help with the child arrived, and no household duties were cancelled. Daniel came home later and later, sometimes not at all.
Eleanor realised that Daniel was seeing other women; she even guessed who. Family life grew less bearable. She lived in her motherinlaws house like a servant, crying at night and worrying about her future.
One day Daniels sisterinlaw, Irene Vaughan, arrived at the house. To Eleanor, she seemed a woman with an iron will, silently watching everything, speaking little.
Eleanor tried to do everything well and on time. She managed, but the motherinlaw always found something to complain about and told her sister. Meanwhile, Daniel no longer felt ashamed about going out on dates. Their mother argued, but she could do nothing.
Without my consent they married me! Live now with my wife, Daniel said, and left.
Irene watched everything. Two weeks passed slowly, then she began packing to leave.
Whats the point of coming back after five years? the motherinlaw muttered as Irene gathered her things. What are you sniffing at?
In the morning everyone went to work. Irene asked Eleanor to see her off.
Ill see you off, and we can walk with little Mary together, Eleanor offered.
Ive been watching your family. Youre exhausted, dark circles under your eyes, youre barely holding on. How do you endure it, girl? And do you know about Daniel? Irene asked.
Yes, Eleanor replied.
Dont go nowhere. Pack your things, well go together, youll get a break from them.
But what if they wont let me back? Ill have nowhere to go, Eleanor protested.
Well sort that out. Pack, Ill take a stroll by the house with a cart, Irene said.
What about a ticket? I have no money, Eleanor said.
Dont worry about that. I dont have a ticket either. A car will arrive in two hours. Hurry and dont forget anything. You probably wont have to return. Ill tell you everything when we get there. Its only three hours drive.
The car pulled up at the gate of a modest house. It looked far nicer than the motherinlaws place. The driver parked in the driveway and walked away.
This is the neighbour. I cant drive alone, so sometimes I ask him for a lift. If youd like a driving licence, Ill help you. Make yourself at home, settle in. Your room is to the right, he said.
Half an hour later Irene began her story.
My sister and I never talked much. I had a daughter who went off to university and later died. Her friends were thrillseekers, they used to go down mountain rivers. She got caught up in that, Irene recalled.
The first trek ended in tragedy. After that my husband left me because he couldnt cope. Now Im alone. I came to my sister for help and to arrange an inheritance.
My sister said there was no room. Daniel married, youre his child, his daughters. I saw that everything rests on you. They dont understand that, Irene continued.
My sister expects everyone to do things for her. Theyve pushed everything onto you. Daniel doesnt love you. Hes not your ally. Ive learned everything. No one will help you, not even your parents.
I wanted to leave the house to Daniel, thought hed be a family man, a father, but he Ive made my decision. Bear with me a little longer; itll all be yours. I think its time to file for divorce, she said.
Ive got about a year left. Well manage. Call me Aunt Irene. Get used to the house being entirely yours.
What will they say?
Dont think about it. They have enough of their own problems. Stay strong, you have a daughter, Irene advised.
Irene lived just over a year after that. Eleanor divorced Daniel, and he remarried quickly. Former relatives attended Irenes funeral, openly displeased with her sisters choices. Daniel even tried to rekindle the relationship, but there was no way back.
Now Eleanor lives with her daughter in her own home. She finally obtained her driving licence, studies parttime at university, and most importantly, is learning to live independently. She loves the freedom it brings.
Thats how life can turn out. A legacy is left not to those who cling, but to those with a good heart. That is the true fairness of the world.
Remember: strength isnt measured by how much you endure in silence, but by how bravely you choose to change your path.
