«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 anything yesterday» Margaret lowered her eyes awkwardly.
«Mum, this is for expectant mothers. Why are you here?» Emily ran a hand over her rounded belly.
«Emmy, I wanted to tell you» The woman hesitated, searching for the right words. «The thing is Im expecting a baby too.»
Margaret had Emily at eighteen. The girls father showed no interest, paying mere pennies in child support, and only after court orders.
But Margaret adored her daughter. She worked two jobs, sewing late into the night for extra money. Friends shook their heads. «Why push yourself so hard? Youll waste your youth!» But Margaret ignored them. She wanted her girl to want for nothingthe finest chocolates, stylish coats, expensive dolls. She denied herself everything, yet Emily never felt deprived.
Emily grew accustomed to the best. Money meant littleshe wanted, she bought. She even managed a seaside holiday with her class. When university applications came, she chose the most prestigious school, despite the tuition. Margaret didnt argue.
In her third year, Emily met James. Older, nearly graduated, he struck Margaret as steady and dependable. She was relievedher daughter would have a reliable husband, someone to lean on. Even if Emily had a baby, she wouldnt be alone.
And so it happened. Emily fell pregnant. James proposed immediately, and they held a lavish wedding. His parents covered half the cost; Margaret paid the rest, even gifting them a trip to Cornwall.
«James, lets take a walk,» Emily suggested one afternoon.
«Sure. Lovely weather, and that new café opened nearby. Well grab a bite,» he smiled, stroking her belly.
They strolled through the park, fed the pigeons, then stopped at the café. Just as they sat, Emily paled.
«Whats wrong?» James frowned.
«Mum» she muttered.
Two tables away sat Margaret with an unfamiliar man.
«Oh, right!» James turned.
Margaret noticed them and gave an embarrassed smile.
«Lets say hello. Whos that with her?» James began to rise.
«No. I dont even want to look!» Emily stood sharply and rushed 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 a life too?»
James tactfully stepped in. «Everything alright, Mrs. Hart?»
«Quite fine, James»
«Lets go!» Emily seized her husbands arm and nearly ran.
Emily had always assumed her mother belonged solely to her. The idea of Margaret with a man was unthinkable. Yet for years, Margaret had avoided dating, fearing her daughters reaction.
Until two years ago, when her boss, Geoffrey, began courting her. Margaret had liked him for ages but never acted. When he showed interest, she relented.
They started seeing each other. Geoffrey even asked her to move in. Margaret hesitated but finally agreedonly she couldnt bring herself to tell Emily. Then came that wretched café encounter.
Soon after, Margaret learned she was pregnant. At forty-three, it was latebut abortion was out of the question. Geoffrey was overjoyed; hed never had children.
After the café, Emily stopped answering calls. Updates came only through James. Then, another chance meeting at the clinic. After that, Emily cut contact entirelyblocked numbers, ignored messages.
She learned of her granddaughters birth from her son-in-law.
«A girl, 20 inches, 7 pounds!» James announced cheerfully.
«Congratulations! May we visit? Id love to see her,» Margaret whispered, near tears.
«Ill try to persuade Emily»
But she refused outright. Margaret agonised, though doctors warned hernow six months alongto avoid stress.
Four months later, she had a daughter. She wrote to Emily: *You have a sister now.* Silence in reply. Only James sent flowers and called.
Years passed. The girls grew. Emily and James named their daughter Sophie. Margaret and Geoffrey chose Lily, after her grandmother. James occasionally sent photos: *First tooth!* or *Shes walking!* Margaret hoped Emily might soften by Sophies first day of school. But she held firmthough, by then, there seemed little left to resent.
On Sophies seventh birthday, Margaret called James.
«Bring Sophie to visit. Wed love to see you.»
«Ill try»
That evening, James relayed the invitation.
«Were not going,» Emily said flatly.
«But shes your mother. And Lilys your sister,» James reasoned.
«She betrayed me. And I dont want to see that girl.»
So they livedside by side, yet apart. Margaret and Geoffrey in a countryside cottage; Emily and James in a suburban flat. Sometimes, through mutual friends, Emily heard snippets*Margarets in hospital,* or *Lilys ill.* Deep down, she ached to reach out, to hug her mother as she once had. But jealousy and anger always won.
«James, we still need hair ribbons and indoor shoes for Sophie,» Emily said over dinner.
«Plenty of 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 Margaret, she strove to give her daughter every advantage.
September arrived. James took the day offSophies first day at an elite bilingual school. The bell rang, speeches were made
«Class 1A!» the teacher called.
«Thats us!» Emily whispered, guiding Sophie forward.
Then, in the crowd of parents, she spotted her mother. Their eyes met. For a moment, time froze. Then Emily broke, rushing into Margarets arms, tears spilling at last. Margaret held her tightly, as she had in childhood, and in that embrace, every grudge dissolvedas if it had never been.
**Sometimes, the hardest walls to tear down are the ones we build ourselves.**
