A Difficult Choice
Walking through the park, Emily climbed onto the bridge and suddenly paused, leaning against the railing to peer down. The river below was cold and darkperhaps shallow, but the thought of falling sent a shiver through her. Startled by her own mind, she hurried onward.
She was returning from her friend Sophies house, where shed spent the night after fleeing a terrible row at home. Sophies mother, Auntie Irene, had welcomed her warmly.
«Come in, love, Sophies in her room,» shed said, asking no questions about why Emily had arrived so upset. Irene understoodsomething had clearly happened. She fed the girls dinner, served tea with biscuits, and sent them to bed. The next day, feeling awkward about overstaying, Emily decided to go home.
«Thank you, Auntie Irene. I should gomy parents must be worried,» she said before leaving.
After crossing the bridge, Emily noticed a small churchodd, shed never paid it any mind before. She and Sophie had walked past it countless times, chatting away. But today, an impulse drew her inside.
A service was underway, though the congregation was small. Emily stepped forward, glancing aroundthis was her first time in a church. Her eyes settled on a large painting of a young woman cradling an infant. She stared, transfixed, until an elderly woman in a headscarf whispered beside her:
«Dont think twice, dear. Have the baby. Everything will be alright.»
Emily flinched in surprise. «How did you know?» she whispered back.
«Love, Ive lived long enough to see what weighs on a persons heart,» the woman smiled. «Trust me, you wont regret it. Many have stood where you are now. No woman ever regrets her child.»
The priest continued his prayers; the old woman crossed herself. Emily lingered before finally leaving, resolved. «Whatever happens, happens,» she thought. «Shes right.»
The day before, Emily had sat with Sophie on a park bench after classes, dreading going home.
«What will you do, Em? Keep the baby? Have you told Adam?» Sophie pressed. «And your parents?»
«Soph, stop bombarding me,» Emily muttered, her mind cloudy. She was in her second year at universityhow could she face this? Her mother, Margaret, was strict and unpredictable. Shed never approve.
«Mum might actually kill me,» Emily whispered. «Adam said hes not ready to be a father. Told me not to call him again. After all these years togetherhe was my first. I never thought hed do this.»
Sophie cursed Adams betrayal, furious on her friends behalf.
«Auntie Margaret will shout, of course,» Sophie said weakly, recalling her stern demeanour. «But what do *you* want?»
«Soph, what choice do I have? Im in my second year, Adams left me. Mum will never support this.»
That evening, chaos erupted at home. Margarets eyes blazed as she yelled, «How could you? Youre at university! Were you not careful? No childyoure finishing your degree. I wont let you ruin your life!»
«Margaret, are you mad?» her father, George, cut in sharply. «What are you asking of her?»
«George, stay out of this! She needs an education, not nappiesespecially since Adams bolted. Wholl want her with a child and no degree? Shes ending this now!»
«And what are we for?» George countered. «Well help raise our grandchild. Youre being heartless.»
«Oh, *youll* help? While Im stuck with the work? Im not spending my forties as a nanny again!» Margaret shrieked.
Emily, curled in on herself, slipped out unnoticed as her parents raged. She went to Sophies, knowing Auntie Irene would calm her.
When she returned home, the house was silent. Her father scrolled through his phone; her mother clattered in the kitchen.
«Back, then,» Margaret snapped.
«Glad youre home, love,» George said gently. «Were you at Sophies?»
«Yes, Dad.»
Standing firm, Emily spoke loud enough for her mother to hear. «Im keeping the baby. Ive made my decision.» Her voice was steel. Even Margaret stayed quiet.
Time passed. One afternoon, as Emily and Sophie sat in the park, Adams mother, Helen, approached. Emily tensedHelen was kind, but still.
«Girls, hello. Emily, may we talk?»
Sophie left discreetly. Helen sat beside Emily, who braced herself.
«I know about the baby. Sophie called meshe did the right thing. Emily, please keep it. Ill help youfinancially, emotionally, whatever you need.»
Emily blinked. This, she hadnt expected.
«Why?»
«My daughter cant have children. And Adam well, hes a boy still. This baby is hismy grandchild. I want to be part of their life.»
Helens sincerity was undeniable.
Little Tommy was born at the start of Emilys third year. Rosy-cheeked and smiling, he charmed everyoneespecially Grandpa George and Grandma Helen, who visited often.
Margaret, however, packed her bags before the birth. «Enjoy your nappies and sleepless nights. Im not becoming a grandmother.» She left for her colleaguea man shed secretly been seeing for years.
George was shattered. Hed been a devoted husband; the betrayal blindsided him.
Emily didnt take a gap year. With George and Helens support, she balanced studies and motherhood, graduating on time. By Tommys first birthday, life was easier.
«Adam enlisted,» Helen mentioned once. «Maybe the army will straighten him out.» Later, she added, «Hes staying on contract. Perhaps hes grown up after all.»
Years passed. Tommy thrived. Margaret cut all ties, never calling.
One evening, Emily introduced her father to Oliver, a colleague shed been seeing.
«Dad, this is Oliver.»
George shook his hand warmly. «Good to meet you, son.»
To Emilys delight, they hit it off instantlyshared interests, even the same alma mater.
«Em, I approve. Hes a good manand he adores Tommy,» George said later.
Soon, Tommy had a wonderful stepfather, and George, a son-in-law he cherished. Helen, though initially worried shed see less of Tommy, remained a beloved grandmother.
Years later, strolling through the park with Oliver and Tommy, her hand resting on her swelling belly, Emily smiled.
«That woman in the church was right,» she murmured. «No one ever regrets their child.»
Emily was happy. Oliver adored her, and they eagerly awaited their daughter.
*Sometimes, the hardest choices lead to the greatest blessings. The sun dipped low, casting gold across the path where Tommy ran ahead, chasing pigeons with wild laughter. Oliver squeezed her hand, his eyes warm with promise. This lifethe messy, beautiful chaos of itwas everything she hadnt known she needed. And as the breeze carried the scent of blooming jasmine, Emily knew shed chosen not just for herself, but for the family she was building, one brave step at a time.
