Want to get married? Patience, dear. Your bellys already above your nosemeans youre an adult now, my mother had said, indifferent as ever. Margaret had noticed her daughters hopeful glow. Emily had long thought how to tell her parents, but the words never came. Thin by nature, she could no longer hide the swelling belly that announced a new life. She had just turned seventeen.
It didnt take long to discover who the father of the unborn child would be.
Emily had loved Thomas for years. The first September of their seventhyear at school, she saw him among the first faces in the classroom. The boys had stretched over the summer, changed, even grown up a little, yet they were still boys.
Their schoolbags flew between rows of desks, they were late, they skipped lessons. The footrests, the laughter, the jokes ordinary school life.
Thomas was taller than everyone, quicker, better at everything. Thats when Emily fell for himan unrequited love. She kept silent, not shouting about it, while he never seemed to notice. Then he finally did, and they walked together
She couldnt conceal her condition any longer. The parents of the two youngsters came to an agreement, and the wedding was arranged almost at once. Emily was overjoyed.
Their married life began under the roof of the motherinlaw. Thomas was the eldest of the children. Two of his sisters were still at school, in the fifth and seventh years, and he had to go to work.
Now youve grown enough to father a child! Show us youre an adult. We have two daughters already, and we have no intention of supporting your wife or your baby! the motherinlaw declared.
For Emily, adulthood began too. She had to abandon her studies; even a position as a housecleaner was denied. She swept the large house because she had no other work.
All household chores fell on her. Thomass sisters laughed, relieved that they no longer had to wash dishes, mop floors, or tidy the home.
They even tried to make her life harder: more dirty crockery, crumbs scattered on the floor, random stains on cupboards and walls. Emily understood everything, it was painful, but she had no one to complain to.
Thomas worked, indifferent to the domestic turmoil. He hadnt even tasted a night out, and he wasnt particularly fond of Emily.
He had married under pressure from his parents. Emily tried to speak with her own mother, but nothing fruitful emerged.
Want to get married? Patience! Your bellys already above your nosemeans youre grown! the motherinlaw repeated.
Emilys happiness faded. She would have fled if not for the child she was carrying; the birth itself was easy, but life grew harder.
There was no help with the baby, and the household chores never ceased. Thomas came home later and later, sometimes not at all.
Emily guessed he was out with someone, and she could almost name the other woman. Family life became increasingly unbearable. She lived in the motherinlaws house like a servant, wept at night, and dreamed of a different future.
One day, Thomass sister, Eleanor Whitmore, arrived at the motherinlaws house. To Emily, she seemed a woman of an extremely strong temperamentquietly observing everything, speaking little.
Emily tried to do everything well and on time. She managed, but the motherinlaw always found something to criticize and complained to her sister. Meanwhile Thomas no longer felt ashamed to leave the house for dates. Their mother argued, but could do nothing.
Without my consent you married me! Live now with my wife, Thomas answered, and walked away.
Eleanor watched everything. Two weeks passed slowly, then they were over. She began packing to leave.
Whats the point of coming? Its been five years, muttered the motherinlaw quietly as her sister gathered her belongings. What are you sniffing at?
In the morning, everyone headed to work. Emily offered to see Eleanor off.
Ill see you off, and well take a walk with little Mary, she said.
Ive been watching your family. Youre exhausteddark circles under your eyes, youre barely holding on. How do you endure all this, girl? And do you know about Tom?
Yes, Emily replied.
Going nowhere? Pack your things, come with me, get a break from them.
But what if they wont let me back? I have nowhere to go.
Well sort that out. Pack, and Ill push a cart beside the house.
I have no ticket, no money.
Dont worry about that. I have no ticket either. A car will arrive in two hours. Hurry, dont forget anything. You probably wont have to return. Ill tell you everything when we get there. Its only a threehour ride.
The car stopped at the gate of a modest house, far smaller than the motherinlaws but far nicer. The driver turned the vehicle into the driveway and left.
This is the neighbour. I cant drive alone, so sometimes I ask him. If youd like a licence, Ill help you, Eleanor said. Make yourself at home, settle in. Ill rest a bit. Your room is on the right.
Half an hour later Eleanor began her tale.
My sister and I never spoke much. I had a daughter who went off to university and later died. Her friends were thrillseekers, they would race down mountain streams. She took to it as well.
Her first expedition ended in tragedy. After that my husband left, unable to cope. I was left alone. I came to my sister asking for help and to settle an inheritance.
She told me there was no room. Thomas married; you, the child, his sisters daughter. I saw that everything rested on you. They dont understand that.
My sister is used to having everything done for her. They dumped everything on you. Tom doesnt love you. Why does he even care? I know everything now. No one will help you, not even your parents.
I wanted to leave the house to Thomas, thinking hed have a family, a child, but he Ive decided. Bear with me a little, it will all be yours. I think its time to file for divorce.
I have about a year left. Well manage. Call me Aunt Irma. Get used to having the house wholly yours.
What will they say?
Dont think about that. They have enough of their own troubles, and you must not give them yours! Be strong; you have a daughter.
Eleanor Whitmore lived a little over a year after that. Emily separated from Thomas, and he remarried quickly. Relatives came to attend Eleanors funeral, openly expressing their displeasure at the sisters decisions. Thomas even tried to rekindle things, but there was no road back.
Emily and her daughter now live in their own home. She finally obtained her driving licence, studies parttime at a college, and most importantlyhas learned to live on her own. And how she loves it!
That, dear reader, is how life can turn. Legacies are left not to those who are weak, but to those with good hearts. And that is just.
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