Well, youve gone and done it now, lad
George wasnt in a hurry to go home after work. Not that his rented flat in Manchester could really be called homejust a temporary stopgap. He took the long way round instead, driving through the damp city streets. Rain lashed against the car windows, and the wind tore the last of the autumn leaves from the trees. One stubborn golden leaf clung to the passenger-side wiper. Summer was well and truly over. His father used to say, *”As the lasses go, so goes the summer.”*
His fatherno saint by any means, fond of a pint or three. His mother would scold, but George had always liked it when his dad came home a bit merry. Hed grow soft, slip George a few quid. The next day, after school, George would dash to the shop to chase his dreama pocketknife like the one Steve had, or a bottle of Coke with a bag of crisps.
Ah, those were the days. Everything had seemed simpler then, full of wonder, with his parents there to shield him, explain things, give advice. And somewhere in that distant past was a girl named Lily. Fragile, with fair hair and clear blue eyes. A strong gust mightve carried her away, so he always held her hand.
But they never had the chance to grow into something deeper. Hed kissed her just oncea fleeting press of lips against lips. All hed wanted was to walk, hand in hand with Lily, wherever the road took them.
Her father had been in the Army. Shed joined their school in Year 7, and by the start of Year 10, her dad had been reassigned. The whole family packed up and left for York.
How many times had he thought of calling or texting her? But what then? They werent coming back, and hed likely never set foot in York. Why stir up hope? She mustve thought the same, because she never reached out either.
Yet his heart clung to her memory. Hed only ever been drawn to girls who reminded him of Lilythough none ever matched the image in his mind, real or imagined.
His wife, thoughshe was nothing like Lily. Or rather, shed chosen *him*. He and Olivia had been in the same uni group. Shed dated other lads, and she wasnt his type. But during their third year, theyd done work experience at the same firm. Theyd often walk home together. Olivia was from some tiny village, though she insisted it was a *”proper town.”*
Summer emptied the dorms. Most students left to do placements back home, but Olivia stayed. One evening, she invited George oversaid shed made a proper beef stew and had no one to share it with.
Hed gone, if only out of boredom. His mates had warned him about girls from the stickshow theyd trap a city lad into marriage just to stay. *”Watch yourself, or next thing you know, some birdll get herself in the family way and have you hitched before you can blink.”*
The stew *was* goodbetter than his mums, even. Then came the inevitablethey ended up in bed. At the last second, George hesitated, but Olivia swore she was on the pill. The rest of their placement passed in a blur of snatched moments. He didnt love herhe went to her for one reason only, nothing like what hed felt for Lily.
When term started again, they only saw each other in lectures. Then, a month later, she cornered him in the corridor between buildings and said she was pregnant.
*”You told me you were on the pill,”* George said, stunned.
*”Missed a dose or two. Never had trouble beforeuntil you.”* She bit her lip. *”Im scared to get rid. What if I cant have kids after?”*
He pitied herand, truth be told, hed grown used to her. He told his parents, brought Olivia home. She helped set the table, slipping his mum a few cooking tips, which won her over instantly.
*”Such a practical girl. At least I wont have to worry about my son starving now.”*
They married just before New Yearswhite dress, tiered cake, silly games. Whod even invented the tradition of carrying the bride over a bridge? His mates jeered from behind:
*”Long strides, Georgie. Get used to itthisll be your life now.”*
Olivia was sturdyno delicate waif. Hed struggled, but hed managed, dignity intact.
That was when he knewhe was well and truly caught.
At first, married life wasnt so bad. His parents scraped together enough to buy them a one-bed flat. Olivia nested, kept the fridge stocked. His mum sang her praises whenever she visited.
But everything changed when the baby came. Olivia took a gap year. His mum still had years till retirement but helped evenings when she could. George switched to part-time studies and got a job at the firm where theyd done their placement.
He dragged himself to work half-asleep. Emma was a restless baby, up all night. The second he walked in, Olivia would thrust the wailing bundle into his arms. But then his mum would arrive, and magic happenedEmma would quiet in her arms, Olivia would rest, and his mum would cook while humming lullabies.
Leaving, shed murmur, *”Dont rush into another. Do your part, son.”*
After the wedding and the baby, Olivia suddenly became religious about her pillseven bolting awake at night to check shed taken one. *If only shed been this careful before.*
The flat grew cramped, but money was tight. George got his degree and hunted for better work. He jumped jobslow pay, dodgy schemes.
*”You wont get rich playing honest. Others managelearn from them,”* Olivia snapped whenever he quit.
But he wouldnt cheat. He carried the family alone while Olivia finished her degree. Then she landed a job as an exec assistantdecent pay, good prospects. Two incomes, yet still never enough.
*”Could cut back on the new dresses,”* George grumbled.
*”Im the directors front faceI have to look the part. You couldve climbed higher by now.”*
Olivia worked late oftenmeetings, client dinners. George simmered with jealousy. Rare was the day without a row. Then, one evening, she said she saw no point going on.
*”You know we cant just leavenot with Emma. Wed never afford two places.”*
*”Knew this was coming. You held out longer than I expected.”* George exhaled. *”Found someone richer?”*
*”If youd ever listened, we wouldnt be having this talk.”*
*”You never loved me. Just needed a ticket out of your village.”*
*”Youve never lived somewhere where you heat water on a stove. Youve no idea.”*
George smirked. Finally admitting it was a village, then.
*”Pack my things. Dont want you accidentally keeping anything,”* he said.
She didneatly, in a suitcase and a holdall. He didnt go to his parents. Rented a room instead. So there he wasalone, family gone, flat gone, just child support and a hollow ache. He drank. Couldnt sleep without whisky. His neighbour often joined him.
*”Lucky sod. No wife to peck your head like a woodpecker,”* the bloke would say, though hed scamper home the second *his* wife called.
After losing another job, George knew he had to quit drinking or sink for good.
*”Got a drop left?”* His neighbour groaned when George poured the last bottle down the sink. *”Bloody waste.”*
*”Sorry, mate. Dry now. Got a job leadneed to look sharp.”*
*”Right. Well, Ill be off then.”*
That night, staring at the dark windows across the street, George wished for just one more drink.
A mate got him a courier gig with Amazon. One delivery was a wardrobe to a flat. The girl who answered*Christ*she couldve been Lilys twin.
*”Do you assemble furniture too?”* she asked.
*”Just delivery. Need a hand with it?”*
Petite, delicate. He *wanted* to help. *”I could do it after shift.”*
*”Really? Ill pay whatever you ask,”* she said, brightening.
*”Ill come by after eight. That alright?”*
He thought of her all day. Ran late on deliveries, swung home to change. Didnt reach her place till near ten.
*”Sorrygot held up.”*
*”Its fine. Come in.”*
Two hours assembling the wardrobe. From the kitchen, something delicious waftedhis stomach growled. He hadnt eaten properly all day. When he finished, she invited him to the table. He lived on takeaways and
