Eight-year-old Emily walked home from school, overwhelmed by an aching need to see her mother, who lived in the next village over. Instead of heading back to the house she shared with her father and grandmother, she turned down the lane toward the bus stop, waited impatiently, and boarded the first one that came.
*Why did Mum have to be like this? Why couldnt she stay with Dad? Hes good to me. Sure, I lived with her once, but I hated italways left alone while she brought home that bloke Tony, both of them drunk. Even though Im happy with Dad and Nan, I still miss her.*
Emily stepped off the bus and made her way down the winding village road toward her mothers house. And there she wasLouise, slumped on a bench by the front gate, clearly not sober.
*»Oi, love, whered you come from?»* Louise slurred, pulling her into a loose hug.
*»Mum, I missed you,»* Emily whispered, clinging tight.
They exchanged a few clumsy words before Louises tone shifted.
*»Em, you got any money on you?»*
*»Just enough for the bus back.»*
*»Thats it? Whatd you come here for then? I need cashcant you see that?»*
*»Mum, I dont have any,»* Emily murmured.
*»Well, sod off back to your dad then,»* Louise snapped, already turning away. *»Had enough of this. Ill get it myself.»* She stumbled off, chasing after some woman down the street.
Emily stood frozen in the middle of the road, bitterness tightening her chest. For the first time, she truly understoodher mother didnt want her. Only Dad and Nan did. Head bowed, she wandered the wrong way, mistaking a small thicket for the woods, straying deeper with every step. Then she stoppedrealising too late she was lost. The trees loomed around her, and panic set in.
—
Greg had met Louise at a village dance years ago, when she and her mates had come over from the next town. Hed taken one look at her and never let go. And Louise? She hadnt minded one bit.
All autumn, Greg had roared over on his motorcycle to see her, and when winter set in, hed asked her to marry him.
*»Lou, lets do it. Sick of riding back and forth. Move in with meMums lovely, youll get on with her.»*
She didnt need convincing. Shed gone to that dance for a reasonno decent blokes in her own village.
*»Fine by me,»* shed said simply, and Greg had been over the moon. A wife as pretty as her? Hed won the jackpot.
At first, it worked. They lived with Gregs mother, Margaret, who treated Louise like her own. A year later, little Emily was bornMargarets pride and joy. But as time passed, Greg noticed how little Louise cared for motherhood.
*»Shell come round, son,»* Margaret assured him. *»Just the baby blues. Itll pass.»*
But it didnt. When Emily turned three, something in Louise snapped. Suddenly she was always out with her mates, coming home drunk. The monotony of family life bored her. Greg held on, hoping shed changebut it only got worse.
*»Going to Nats for her birthday,»* she announced one day.
*»Course, love,»* Greg agreed, though his gut twisted.
She didnt come back that night. When she stumbled in at dawn, Greg and Margaret were already at breakfast.
*»Oi, whyre you up?»* she slurred, staggering past them before collapsing onto the bed, still in last nights clothes.
Greg hadnt known about Louises drinkingno one had told him her own mother had been the same. He never visited her village after the wedding.
Emily grew up with little attention from her mother. Even Greg began to doubt if he still loved his wife. Then one day, Louise vanishedback to her old village for a week.
*»Dad, wheres Mum?»* Emily would ask, small voice quivering. *»I miss herwhens she coming back?»*
*»Shes in the village, love.»*
*»Bring her home, Dad,»* she begged.
So on his next day off, Greg drove overonly to find her mother smirking.
*»Shes at Tonys. That house there.»*
When he walked in, the place reeked of booze. Louise was draped over Tonys lap, laughing too loud.
Spotting Greg, she scrambled up.
*»Oh, Gregits not what you think! Glad youre heremissed you!»*
For a week, she stayed soberalmost herself again. Greg wrestled with forgiveness, but it didnt last. Ten days later, she was drunk again, screaming in the yard for the whole street to hear:
*»Im sick of the lot of you! You, your mumalways watching me! And Emily? I dont want hershes old enough now. Tired of pretending!»*
That was the end. Greg knew thenhe had to save his daughter. Louise stormed off, only to return weeks later and snatch Emily while he was out. She shoved Margaret aside and vanished.
The next day, Greg went after her, but Louise flew into another rage. *»Youre not taking her!»*
So he went to the authorities. When social services arrived, they found Louise passed out drunk with Tony, Emily staring blankly out the window.
They took her back to Greg. He filed for divorceand full custody.
—
A year later, Emily was in primary school. Margaret and Emily were home when Greg returned, slamming the door behind him.
*»Im back, Mumstarving. Em, look what I got you!»*
Margaret set the table while Emily flung herself into Gregs arms, giggling as he spun her. His mother watched, tenseuntil he nodded. Then she exhaled, pulling food from the fridge.
*»Mum, not all at oncewell burst!»* Greg laughed.
But Margaret fussed, thinking*Thirty-three, and hes raising a daughter alone.*
Later, when Emily dashed off, she asked quietly, *»Howd it go, love? Whatd Louises solicitor say?»*
Greg snorted. *»What could he say? Even he was shocked. Louise turned up drunk, barely stringing two words together. Judge didnt hesitateEmily stays with me. Louise lost her rights.»*
Margaret sighed. *»She brought it on herself. What kind of mothers drunk all the time?»*
—
Agatha, twenty-six, loved the woods. She often wandered alone, foraging for mushrooms and berrieseven getting lost a few times, forced to camp overnight. But she wasnt afraid. Her grandfather, George, had taught her how to build a shelter, always pack matches.
One September afternoon, she strayed too deep, lost in thought. The forest swallowed her.
*»Right. Rest first. Build a sheltersomeones probably looking for me already.»*
As the sun dipped, she lit a firethen froze at the sound of snapping twigs.
A little girl stood theretrembling, tear-streaked.
*»Whore you?»* Agatha asked.
*»Im Emmily,»* she sobbed. *»Im lost!»*
*»Right, no tearswont help. Where dyou live?»* Agatha draped her jumper over the girls shoulders.
By the fire, Emily spilled everything.
*»Dad and Nan dont know I went to see Mum»*
*»Well find them,»* Agatha promised.
At dawn, distant engine hum guided them to the roadjust as Greg, wild-eyed, screeched to a halt.
*»Dad!»* Emily shrieked, bolting to him.
Greg glared at Agatha. *»Who the hell are you? Whered you take my kid?»*
*»Dad, dont! She saved me!»*
At the police station, Gregs anger melted into shame. *»Ill drive you home,»* he muttered. *»But firstcome eat. Mumll be chuffed.»*
Agatha hesitatedbut she *liked* him. And she knewthis wasnt the end.
Six months later, they married. No one was happier than Emily.
Because no good storys complete without love.
