Elizabeth and her husband Thomas came home from the funeral quiet and weary. They had just buried Thomass mother, MargaretElizabeths mother-in-law.
«Well, at least shes at peace now, laid to rest beside Dad,» Thomas murmured. «When she was ill, thats all she spoke ofbeing with him.»
«Yes,» Elizabeth replied softly. «She knew wed bury her there, but still, it was all she could think about. Such a cruel illnesspainful and relentless.»
The evening passed in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Elizabeths mind drifted to her own past, especially the years before marriage. There had been little joy. She had lost both parents youngthey had died in her grandmothers house, staying overnight after her grandfathers funeral when the old cottage caught fire. None of them made it out.
Elizabeth had been home that night with her older brother, Charlie. By morning, they were orphans. The villagers helped with the burials, whispering that Grandad Henry had taken his wife and their parents with him.
Charlie was nearly grown at seventeen, but Elizabeth was only thirteen. They stayed in the family homeCharlie worked the farm, and Elizabeth studied. Fate had been unkind to her, and sometimes she still wondered how shed endured it all.
Their village, Willowbrook, was smalljust forty-two houses. The school only went up to primary, so from Year 5, children walked three miles to the next village. In winter, they cut across the frozen river to save time. Old Mr. Wilkins used to take them by horse-drawn cart on Mondays, and theyd board at the schoolhouse until Saturday.
But not everyone liked staying there, especially the older boys. Their ringleader was Michael, the chairmans son.
«Anyone walking home today, meet at the bench after lessons,» hed say.
Three miles wasnt far, and in a group, the woods werent frightening. The boys had started noticing girlspassing notes, asking them to walk in the evenings, gathering at the village hall for dances on weekends. By Monday, everyone knew who fancied whom.
Elizabeth attended that school too. As she grew older, the village couldnt take their eyes off her. Beautiful, gentle, with a voice like honeyif she so much as glanced at a boy, hed lose sleep over her.
She was perfect in every waykind, clever, and lovely. Her only flaw, in the eyes of some, was that she was an orphan. She lived with Charlie, now married to a local girl, Lucy, with a son of their own.
Lucy resented Elizabeth. No matter how hard she tried to please, she felt unwelcome. «Once I finish school,» Elizabeth thought, «Ill leave for the city, train as a chef. Lucy will never accept me, and I dont belong here.»
She never complained to Charlieshe didnt want to come between him and his wife.
The lads respected her, never speaking a harsh word. They all hoped shed choose one of them someday. But she was reserved, keeping them at arms length.
Then, one day, rumours spreadMichael, the chairmans son, and Elizabeth were sweethearts. They walked hand in hand, inseparable. Michael was tall, strong, already more man than boy. He was clever too, like Elizabeththey had plenty to talk about.
The village saw them as the perfect pair. «Two lovebirds,» the old women whispered. «A wedding soon, mark my words.»
But not everyone approved. Michaels parents, George and Margaret, were against it. George, the village chairman, was well-offthe first to own a car, a prosperous farm, even a motorbike. When he learned his son was courting an orphan, he was furious.
«Listen, Margaret,» he told his wife, «whats that girl thinking, setting her sights on our Michael? Pretty, yes, but shes got nothinglives off her brothers charity.»
«I dont know, George,» Margaret fretted. «Hes besotted. What if they well, with no parents to watch over her?»
«I want him to marry into a proper familysomeone like the Harrisons girl. Not as pretty, but her fathers the county agronomist. Wealthy. Thats the match we need.»
George tried reasoning with Michael. «Forget her, lad. Ill find you a better wife.»
«I dont want anyone else,» Michael said stubbornly.
George turned to scheming. He visited Lucy, knowing she disliked Elizabeth. «Youve got an aunt up in Scotland, havent you? Send the girl there.»
Lucy, tempted by the money George offered, convinced Charlie. With tears, he put Elizabeth on a train north, handing her an address.
Michael was heartbroken. He barely spoke to his parents, and when he left for military service, his letters were cold. Then, after two years, he wrote: «Found a girl. Bringing her home.»
«See?» George gloated. «Hes forgotten her.»
The village buzzed with curiosity. When the taxi arrived, everyone gathered. Out stepped Michael, taller, broaderand beside him, Elizabeth, radiant in a white dress.
The crowd gasped. George and Margaret froze.
«Meet my wife,» Michael declared.
The villagers cheered. «True love wins!»
The couple forgave George and Margaret, and they lived happily, raising two sons. Time passed. George died first, then Margaret. Elizabeth nursed her tenderlyshe had become a true mother to her.
Now, as Elizabeth and Thomas sat in the quiet house after the funeral, they knew grief would fade. Life went on.
Some loves are meant to beno matter the trials, fate finds a way.
