Only My Fate
“Mum, what are you doing here?” gasped Emily, spotting her mother in the maternity clinic.
“Oh, Emmy, do you have an appointment today too? You didnt mention it yesterday” Sarah lowered her eyes, flustered.
“Mum, this is for pregnant women. Why are you here?” Emilys hand instinctively brushed over the curve of her belly.
“Em, I was going to tell you” Sarah glanced around, searching for the right words. “Well Im expecting too.”
Sarah had Emily at eighteen. The girls father showed no interest, paying pitiful child supportonly after court orders. But Sarah adored her daughter. She worked two jobs, sewed late into the night. Friends shook their heads. “Why work yourself to the bone? Youre wasting your youth!” Sarah ignored them. Her girl would want for nothing. The finest chocolates, stylish coats, expensive dollsEmily had it all. Sarah denied herself everything, but her daughter never felt deprived.
Emily grew up expecting the best. Money meant nothingshe wanted, she bought. She even went on holiday with her class. When university applications came, she chose the most prestigiousand expensivecourse. Sarah didnt argue.
In her third year, Emily met James. Older, nearly graduated. Sarah liked him immediatelysteady, sensible. She was relieved: her daughter would have a dependable husband, a rock. Even if she had a baby, she wouldnt be alone.
And so it happened. Emily fell pregnant. James proposed straight away, and they had a lavish wedding. His parents covered half; Sarah paid the rest, even gifting them a trip to Brighton.
“James, lets go for a walk,” Emily suggested.
“Alright. Lovely weather, and that new cafés opened nearby. Well grab a bite,” he smiled, stroking her bump.
They strolled through the park, fed the pigeons, then stopped at the café. The moment they sat, Emily paled.
“Whats wrong?” James frowned.
“Mum” she muttered sharply.
Two tables away, Sarah sat with a man Emily didnt recognise.
“Oh, it is her!” James turned.
Sarah noticed them, offering an awkward smile.
“Lets say hello. Whos that with her?” James started to rise.
“No. I dont even want to look!” Emily shot up and fled outside.
James paid and caught up. On the pavement, Emily was already confronting her mother:
“Who is he?! Have you forgotten youre about to be a grandmother?”
“Emily, youre grown up. I raised youdont I deserve my own life?”
James stepped in tactfully. “Everything alright, Sarah?”
“James, its fine”
“Lets go!” Emily seized his arm and nearly dragged him away.
Emily had always assumed her mother belonged solely to her. The idea of Sarah having a man was unthinkable. And truthfully, Sarah hadnt datedafraid of her daughters reaction.
Until two years ago, when her boss, Edward, started courting her. Sarah had liked him for years but never made a move. When he showed interest, she gave in.
They dated. Edward even asked her to move in. Sarah hesitated, but eventually agreed. Yet she had no idea how to tell Emily. Then came that disastrous meeting at the café.
Later, Sarah discovered she was pregnant. At forty-threelate, yes. But abortion was out of the question. Edward was overjoyedhed never had children. Now, a son or daughter.
After the café, Emily stopped answering calls. Sarah relied on James for updates. Then came the clinic encounter. After that, Emily cut contact completelyblocked her number, ignored messages.
Sarah learned of her granddaughters birth from her son-in-law.
“A girl, 53 cm, 7 lbs!” James announced cheerfully.
“Congratulations! Can we visit? Id love to see her,” Sarah whispered, voice trembling.
“Ill try to persuade Emily”
But she refused outright. Sarah fretted, though she was already six months along, and the doctors warned against stress.
Four months later, she had a girl. She texted Emily: *You have a sister now.* Silence. Only James sent flowers and called.
Years passed. The girls grew. Emily and James named theirs Sophie. Sarah and Edward chose Lily, after her grandmother. James occasionally sent photos: *First tooth!* or *Shes walking!* Sarah hoped Emily would soften by Sophies first day of school. But she held firmthough there was nothing left to resent.
On Sophies seventh birthday, Sarah called James.
“Bring Sophie to ours. Wed love to see her.”
“Ill try”
That evening, James relayed the invitation.
“No,” Emily snapped.
“But theyre your family,” he reasoned.
“She betrayed me. And I dont want to see that girl.”
So they livedseparate lives. Sarah and Edward in a countryside cottage, Emily and James in the suburbs. Sometimes, through mutual friends, Emily heard updates: *Sarahs in hospital.* *Lilys ill.* Deep down, part of her ached to visit, to hug her mother like before. But bitterness always won.
“James, we still need Sophies hair ribbons and indoor shoes,” Emily said over dinner.
“Weve got time. Hard to believe shes seven already”
“Mum, do I have to go to French club?” Sophie burst into the kitchen.
“Yes! We moved here for this school!” Emily said sternly.
Just like Sarah once had, she gave her daughter the very best.
September arrived. James took the day offSophies first day at an elite language school. The bell rang, speeches were made
“Class 1A!” the teacher announced.
“Thats us!” Emily whispered, guiding Sophie forward.
Then, in the crowd of parents, she saw her mother. Their eyes locked. For a heartbeat, the world stilled. Then Emily broke. She rushed into Sarahs arms, tears spilling at last, and Sarah held her tightjust like childhood. In that moment, every grudge melted away, as if it had never been.
