Only My Destiny
“Mum, what are you doing here?” gasped Emily, spotting her mother in the maternity clinic.
“Oh, Em, do you have an appointment today too? You didnt mention anything yesterday” Sarah lowered her eyes, embarrassed.
“Mum, this is for pregnant women. Why are you here?” Emily rested a hand on her rounded belly.
“Emily, I was meaning to tell you” Sarah glanced around, searching for the right words. “Well, Im expecting a baby too.”
Sarah had Emily at eighteen. The girls father showed no interest, paying barely enough in child support, and only after court orders.
But Sarah adored her daughter. She worked two jobs, sewing late into the night for extra money. Friends shook their heads. “Why work yourself to the bone? Youre wasting your youth!” But Sarah ignored them. All that mattered was giving her girl the best. The finest chocolates, trendy coats, expensive dollswhatever Emily wanted. She denied herself everything, but her daughter never felt deprived.
Emily grew up accustomed to luxury. Money meant nothingshe saw, she wanted, she bought. She even went on holiday with her class. When university applications came, she chose the most prestigious one, despite the fees. Sarah didnt argue.
In her third year, Emily met James. He was older, nearly finished with his degree. Sarah liked him immediatelyserious, sensible. She was relieved: at last, her daughter would have a steady husband, someone to rely on. Even if she had a baby, she wouldnt be alone.
And so it happened. Emily fell pregnant. James proposed at once, and they had a lavish wedding. His parents paid half, Sarah covered the resteven gifted them a holiday to Cornwall.
“James, lets go for a walk,” Emily suggested.
“Sure. Lovely day, and that new café just opened. Well grab a bite,” he smiled, gently touching her stomach.
They strolled through the park, fed the pigeons, then stopped at the café. The moment they sat down, Emily paled.
“Whats wrong?” James frowned.
“Mum” she muttered.
Two tables away sat Sarah with an unfamiliar man.
“Oh, right!” James turned.
Sarah noticed them and gave an awkward smile.
“Lets say hello. Whos that with her?” James started to rise.
“No. I dont even want to look!” Emily snapped, bolting outside.
James paid and caught up. On the pavement, Emily was already confronting her mother:
“Who is that?! Have you forgotten youre about to be a grandmother?”
“Emily, youre grown now. I raised youdont I deserve my own life?”
James stepped in tactfully:
“Everything alright, Mrs. Thompson?”
“Oh, James, its fine”
“Lets go!” Emily grabbed her husbands arm and nearly ran.
Emily was used to her mother belonging solely to her. The idea of Sarah with a man had never crossed her mind. And truthfully, Sarah hadnt dated anyoneafraid of how her daughter would react.
Until two years ago, when her boss, Michael, started pursuing her. Sarah had liked him for ages but never made a move. When he showed interest, she gave in.
They began dating. Michael even asked her to move in. Sarah hesitated but eventually agreed. She just didnt know how to tell Emily. Then came that disastrous encounter
Later, Sarah discovered she was pregnant. At forty-threelate, certainly. But abortion wasnt an option. Michael was overjoyedhed never had children.
After the café, Emily stopped answering calls. Sarah only heard updates from James. Then came the clinic run-in. After that, Emily cut contact completelyblocked her number, ignored messages.
She learned of her granddaughters birth from her son-in-law.
“A girl, 53 cm, 7 pounds!” James announced happily.
“Congratulations! Can we visit? Id love to see her,” Sarah whispered, near tears.
“Ill try to convince Emily”
But she refused outright. Sarah fretted, though doctors warned herat six months alongto avoid stress.
Four months later, she had a baby 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 Michael chose Grace, after Sarahs mother. James occasionally sent photos: *First tooth!* or *Shes walking!* Sarah hoped Emily would soften by Sophies first day of school. But she held firmas if she had any reason to resent her.
On Sophies seventh birthday, Sarah called James:
“Bring Sophie over. Wed love to see her.”
“Ill try”
That evening, James passed on the invitation.
“Were not going,” Emily said flatly.
“But shes your mother. Grace is your sister,” he reasoned.
“She betrayed me. And I dont want to see that girl.”
So they livedside by side, yet apart. Sarah and Michael in a countryside cottage, Emily and James in the suburbs. Sometimes Emily heard about her mother through friends: *In hospital*, *Grace has a fever*. Deep down, she longed to visit, to hug her like before. But jealousy and anger won.
“James, we still need hair clips and indoor shoes for Sophie,” Emily said over dinner.
“Plenty of time. Hard to believe shes seven already”
“Mum, can I skip piano today?” Sophie burst into the kitchen.
“No! We moved here just for this school!” Emily said sternly.
Like Sarah once had, she gave her daughter only the best.
September arrived. James took leave to walk Sophie to her first day. A long commute, but worth ita top-tier school with a language programme.
The bell rang, speeches finished
“Class 1A!” the teacher announced.
“Thats us!” Emily whispered, guiding Sophie forward.
Then, in the crowd of parents, she spotted her mother. Their eyes met. For a second, time froze. Then Emily broke, rushing into Sarahs arms, tears finally spilling free as Sarah held her tightjust like in childhoodand in that moment, every grudge melted away, as if it had never been.
