**Diary Entry 19th March 2024**
“You wont see your granddaughter again,” my daughter-in-law said before blocking my number.
“Margaret, would you mind if I did the washing up? I need to keep my hands busy,” Emily offered, poking her head into the kitchen.
Margaret lowered her newspaper and studied her daughter-in-law. Emily stood in the doorway in her usual dressing gown, hair hastily tied back, but her eyes were strangebright, almost feverish.
“Oh, dont trouble yourself, dear. You worked late last night on that presentation. Ill manage,” Margaret replied, folding the paper.
“Honestly, Id like to help. You do so much, and I just get in the way,” Emily insisted, already moving toward the sink.
Margaret frowned. There was something off about Emilys manner. Normally, she was reserved, slightly tense around her. Today, she was fidgeting like a schoolgirl before an exam.
“Wheres Sophie?” Margaret asked, referring to her four-year-old granddaughter.
“Still asleep. She stayed up late watching cartoons,” Emily said, scrubbing a plate with unnecessary vigour.
Margaret stepped closer, standing beside her at the sink. Emily smelled of the familiar perfumethe one David had given her for her birthday. But there was something else underneath, something sharp. Worry, perhaps.
“Emily, love, whats wrong? You seem on edge today,” Margaret said softly.
Emily froze, the wet plate clenched in her hands. Her shoulders stiffened.
“Nothing, really. Just tired, I suppose.”
“Wheres David? He promised to take Sophie to the park today,” Margaret pressed, sensing the tension thickening.
“David wont be coming,” Emily snapped, slamming the plate onto the drying rack with a clatter.
“What do you mean? He said just yesterday”
“Margaret,” Emily turned slowly, and her mother-in-law saw her red-rimmed eyes, as if shed been crying. “We need to talk.”
Margarets pulse quickened. She sank into a chair, her legs suddenly weak.
“Sit down, love. Tell me whats happened.”
Emily remained standing, drying her hands with such force she mightve rubbed the skin raw.
“David and I are getting a divorce.”
The words hit the quiet kitchen like stones dropped into water. Margaret felt something inside her snap, as though every string holding her together had been cut at once.
“Aa divorce?” she barely managed. “But just last night, everything was fine. You had dinner together, Sophie was reciting her nursery rhymes…”
“Margaret, weve been strangers for six months. We were pretendingfor Sophie. But we cant anymore.”
Margaret tried to stand, but her legs wouldnt obey. She clutched the edge of the table.
“But why? What happened? Cant it be fixed? Should I speak to David?”
Emily gave a bitter smile.
“Theres nothing to fix. He packed his things last night and left. For *her*.”
“*Her?*” Margaret whispered, though she already knew.
“His new fling. Lisa, from the office. The one hes spent months telling me is so *clever*, so *understanding*.”
Emily sat across from Margaret, her hands trembling on the table.
“I know you love him. Hes your only son. But hes betrayed our family.”
“Emily, love,” Margaret reached for her hands, but Emily pulled away. “Men lose their heads sometimes. Itll pass. David will come to his senses. He adores Sophie…”
“Adores her,” Emily nodded. “Which is why hes decided weekends will be enough. So convenient, isnt it? No responsibility, just the fun bits.”
“And you? You loved him once…”
Emily shut her eyes, dragging a hand over her face.
“I did. For five years. Had his child, left my job at a good firm because he wanted a housewife. Cooked, cleaned, waited. And all the while, he was making eyes at secretaries.”
Margarets throat tightened. Shed always suspected something was offthe late nights, the sudden business trips.
“Emily, maybe theres been a misunderstanding? All marriages go through rough patches…”
“He told me straight, Margaret. He loves someone else. He only stayed for Sophie. Romantic, dont you think?”
Tears spilled down Emilys cheeks, but her voice stayed firm.
“What happens now?” Margaret whispered.
“Im filing for divorce. Sophie stays with me. Were moving to my mums in Manchester.”
“Manchester?” Margaret gasped. “Why so far?”
“Because here, everything reminds me of him. And because Mums offered me a job.”
Margaret stood, walking to the window. Outside, children playedSophies little friend among them. Her chest ached.
“And Sophie? Shes settled at nursery, with her friends. With me…”
“Children adapt.”
“Emily, I know youre angry with David. And youve every right. But why punish me? What have I done?”
Emily whirled around.
“Done? Who spent years telling David he was *special*, that rules didnt apply to him? Who excused every tantrum, every selfish act?”
“I loved him”
“Loved him? Or spoiled him?” Emilys voice turned icy. “Remember when he dumped his girlfriend at uni after she got pregnant? You said, *Good lad, dodged a bullet there.*”
Margaret flushed.
“That was years ago”
“And when he skipped child support for his first kid? You said she *shouldve thought before spreading her legs.* Now youre shocked hes done it again?”
“Emily, please”
“You raised a selfish man, Margaret. And now Im supposed to stay quiet?”
Sophie shuffled in, pyjama-clad and sleepy-eyed.
“Mummy, why are you shouting?”
Emilys face softened instantly.
“We werent shouting, sweetheart. Go wash up, Ill make breakfast.”
“Wheres Daddy? He promised the park.”
Margaret and Emily exchanged glances. Sophie stared up, trusting, and Margarets heart shattered.
“Daddy… cant today,” Emily said quietly. “Hes busy.”
“Tomorrow?”
“I dont know, Sophie. I dont know.”
The little girl frowned but trudged off. Once the bathroom door shut, Emily turned back.
“And now Ill explain why Daddy left her.”
“Emily, I know youre hurting. But think of Sophie. She loves me. Why take that away?”
“Because youll teach her men can do as they please. That women should swallow their pain. I wont let her repeat my mistakes.”
“Im not like that”
“You *are*. Remember when David hit me after Sophie was born? I came to you in tears, and you said, *Men get stressed with babies. Be wiser.*”
Margaret paled. She rememberedshed thought it sound advice.
“But hes never done it again”
“Because I warned him Id leave. Not because he changed.”
Sophies singing drifted from the bathrooma sweet, ordinary sound that now felt like goodbye.
“When are you leaving?” Margaret asked, voice trembling.
“Tomorrow. Tickets are booked.”
“Tomorrow? Thats too soonwhat about the weekend?”
“The longer we wait, the harder itll be for Sophie.”
“And what about me?” Margaret whispered. “Does it matter how hard it is for me?”
Emily looked away.
“You shouldve thought of that when you raised your son.”
Sophie bounded out, bright-eyed.
“Mummy, can we go to the park with Granny? Theres new swings!”
Margaret looked at Emily pleadingly.
“Alright, darling,” Emily said after a pause. “Go with Granny.”
Sophie cheered and dashed off to dress. Margaret watched her go before turning back.
“Is this the last time?”
“Yes.”
“Emily, pleasedont cut me out completely. We could call, I could visit”
“No,” Emily said firmly. “You wont see Sophie again. Ill block your number, and well start fresh. Without you.”
Margarets world crumbled. She slumped into a chair, covering her face.
“You know Ill die without her?”
“And I almost died *with* your son. Now its my turn to live.”
Sophie raced back, ready.
“Granny, lets go! I want the slide!”
Margaret wiped her eyes, took her hand.
“Alright, my love. Lets go.”
At the park, Sophie laughed on the swings, chattering about cartoons. Margaret memorised every second, every smile. Because tomorrow, it would all be just a memory.
“Granny, why are you crying?” Sophie asked, hopping off.
“Just the wind, sweetheart. Just the wind.”
Back home, Emily was packing. Sophie frowned at the suitcases.
“Mummy, where are we going?”
“To Grandma Louises. Itll be fun.”
“Is Daddy coming?”
“No. Daddys staying here.”
“And Granny Margaret?”
Emily glanced at Margaretjust for a second, something like regret flickered.
“Grannys staying too.”
“But I dont want to go without Granny!” Sophie wailed. “She does the voices in stories!”
“Ill do the voices,” Emily said gently.
“Yours arent as good!”
Margaret knelt, hugging her.
“My darling, youll be with Mummy, and Ill love you every day from here.”
“Will we come back?”
“I dont know, sweetheart. I dont know.”
Sophie sobbed, clinging to her. Margaret stroked her hair, feeling something inside her tear apart.
“Emily, pleaselook how shes hurting,” she begged.
“Better she adjusts now than suffers later,” Emily said, though her voice wavered.
That evening, with Sophie asleep, Margaret tried one last time.
“Emily, I know I failed. But give me a chance.”
“Its too late, Margaret. Far too late.”
“What if I talk to David? Make him come home?”
Emily laughed bitterly.
“You couldnt. Hes too busy with his new life. And I dont want a man who has to be *forced* to love his family.”
The next morning, Margaret watched them climb into the taxi. Sophie hugged her fiercely.
“Granny, come with us!”
“I cant, my love. I cant.”
Emily buckled Sophie in, then met Margarets eyes before shutting the door.
“Goodbye, Margaret.”
“Goodbye, Emily.”
The cab pulled away. Margaret stood frozen on the doorstep. Mrs. Thompson from next door called out.
“Margaret, whats happened? Wheres Emily off to?”
“Gone,” Margaret whispered. “Gone for good.”
She wandered back inside, collapsing into her armchair. Sophies half-eaten toast sat on the table, beside a forgotten plush rabbit.
Margaret picked it up, pressed it to her chest, and wept. Shed lost everything.
**Lesson learned too late: A sons sins become a mothers sorrow. Raise your children to be kindor watch them break the hearts of those you love.**
