She wants to get married,the mother said,just be patient!Your bellys already above your waistyou’re an adult now!She said it as if it didnt matter.
Emma had only just noticed the baby bump growing under her loose shirt. Shed been trying for weeks to find the right words to tell her parents, but the fear kept her tongue shut. Thin by nature, Emma could no longer hide the swelling stomach that was beginning to show. She had just turned seventeen.
The first question was, of course, who the father was.
Emma had liked Daniel for years. The first September of Year7 she saw him sitting at the back of the classroom. They both grew taller over the summer holidays, a little more mature, but they were still just boys. Their schoolbags swung between rows of desks, they often arrived late, skipped lessons together, shared jokes and whispered in the corridorsplain, ordinary school life.
Daniel was taller than most, quicker, seemed to excel at everything. Thats when Emma fell for him, silently, hopelessly. She kept her feelings to herself, not shouting about them, while he barely noticed her. Then, one day, he finally did, and they walked home together, hand in hand.
Emma could not hide the obvious any longer. The parents of the two youngsters reached an agreement, and the wedding was arranged almost immediately. Emma was delighted.
Family life began in the motherinlaws house. Daniel was the eldest of three children. His two sisters were still at primary school, so he had to find a job.
Now youve grown enough to bring a child into the world! Show us youre an adult. We already have two daughters of our own; were not going to support your wife and child!the fatherinlaw declared.
Emmas adult life began at once. She had to abandon her studies; she wasnt even offered a job as a cleaner. Instead, she was made to sweep the huge house while the sisters of Daniel laughed, relieved that they no longer had to wash dishes, mop floors, or tidy the drawingroom.
They even tried to make her life harder: extra dirty plates, crumbs scattered on the floor, random stains on cupboards and walls. Emma understood what was happening; it was painful, but she had no one to complain to.
Daniel went to work and didnt care about the chaos at home. He hadnt even spent a night out with friends, yet he wasnt particularly fond of Emma. He had married under his parents pressure. Emma tried to talk to her own mother, but nothing improved.
She wants to marry,the mother repeated,just be patient!Your bellys already above your waistmeans youre grown!
Emma was no longer happy with the marriage. She would have fled, if not for the unborn child, but now she was stuck. She gave birth without difficulty, yet life only grew tougher.
There was no help with the baby, and no one reduced the household chores. Daniel came home later and later, sometimes not at all.
Emma knew he was seeing someone else; she even guessed who. Domestic life grew increasingly unbearable. She lived in the motherinlaws house like a servant, wept at night and wondered about her future.
One day, Daniels sisterinlaw, Aunt Iris Whitfield, arrived to visit. To Emma, Iris seemed a woman of an iron will, quiet, watching everything in the house with a hawks eye, saying little.
Emma tried to do everything well and on time. She managed, but the motherinlaw always found something to complain about, dragging Iris into the argument. Meanwhile Daniel felt free to go out on dates. Their mother fought with the sisters, but could do nothing.
You married me without my consent! Live now with my wife,Daniel shouted as he left.
Iris observed everything. Two weeks passed slowly, then they were over. Iris began packing to return home.
Why did you come? Its been five years,the motherinlaw muttered as Iris gathered her things.What are you sniffing for?
In the morning everyone left for work. Emma offered to see Iris off.
Ill see you out, then well take a walk with little Mary,she said.
Ive been watching your family. You need a break; you have dark circles under your eyes, youre barely hanging on. How do you endure all this, girl? And do you know about Daniel?
I know.
Lets go somewhere. Pack your things, well leave together, youll rest away from them.
But where? Theyll never let me back, and theres nowhere else to go.
Well sort that out. Pack, and Ill stroll around the house with a trolley.
What about a ticket? I have no money.
Dont worry about that. I have none either. A car will be here in two hours. Hurry, and dont forget anything. You probably wont have to return. Ill tell you everything when we arrive. Its only a threehour drive.
The car stopped at the gate of a modest cottage, far nicer than the motherinlaws manor. The driver nudged the vehicle into the driveway and walked away.
This is my neighbour. I cant drive alone, so sometimes I ask him for a lift. If you want to get your licence, Ill help you. Make yourself at home, settle in. Your room is on the right.
Half an hour later Iris began to speak.
My sister and I never talked much. I had a daughter who went off to university and later died in a mountainriver accident. She loved extreme sports.
Her first trek ended in tragedy. After that my husband left me, unable to cope. Im alone now. I came to my sister hoping for help and to leave an inheritance.
She told me there was no room. Daniel married, youre his child, his daughter. Everything now rests on you, yet they dont understand that.
My sister expects everyone to do everything for her. Theyve dumped everything on you. Daniel doesnt love you. Why would he? Ive learned the whole story. No one will help you, not even your parents.
I wanted to leave my house to Daniel, thinking hed have a family, a child, but he Ive made my decision. Bear with me a bit; it will all be yours soon. I think its time to file for divorce.
I have about a year left, well manage everything. Call me Aunt Iris. Get used to the house being yours.
What will they say
Dont think about that. They have enough of their own lives; dont give them yours! Be strong, you have a daughter.
Iris lived a little over a year after that. Emma finalised the divorce; Daniel remarried quickly. Former relatives turned up for Iriss funeral, openly displeased with her sisters decisions. Daniel even tried to rekindle the relationship, but the road back was closed.
Now Emma lives with her daughter in her own home. She finally obtained her driving licence, studies parttime at a university, and, most importantly, is learning to live independentlyand she loves it.
That is how life turns out. A legacy is left not to those who are lazy, but to those with a good heart, and thats only fair.
Remember: true strength comes from facing hardship, taking responsibility, and carving your own path, no matter how tangled the past may be.
