An old woman sat on a bench outside the house that was no longer hers.
Granny Edith perched on the wooden seat, staring at the cottage where shed spent her whole life. Now it belonged to someone else, and she only stepped inside by their kindness. Edith couldnt quite work out how shed ended up like this. Shed always lived decentlynever wished harm on anyone, raised her only son right.
But her son hadnt turned out as shed hoped. Tears trickled down her wrinkled cheeks as she thought back. It all began with her wedding to her beloved William. A year later, their son Thomas arrived. Then came twins, a boy and a girl, but they were fragilegone within the week. Not long after, William died of appendicitis. The doctors hadnt caught it in time, and by the time peritonitis set in, it was too late.
Shed wept for her husband, but tears wouldnt bring him back. Life had to go on. She never remarried, though shed had offers. She worried a stepfather might upset little Thomas, so she poured everything into raising him.
Thomas grew up, moved to London, got himself educated, married, and carried on with his life. Granny Edith stayed in the little house William had built when they wed. She lived there, alone, until old age crept in.
Thomas visited now and thenchopped wood, fetched water, helped where he could. But as the years passed, keeping up the place grew harder. All she had left were a few chickens and an old goat, but even they needed tending.
Then one day, Thomas arrived with a stranger.
«Hello, Mum,» he said.
«Hello, Tommy.»
«This is my friend Edward,» Thomas went on. «Hed like to buy the house. You cant manage alone anymoreyoull come live with us in the city.»
Granny Edith sat down hard, stunned.
«Dont worry,» Thomas said. «The wife doesnt mind. Youll be comfortable, help with the grandkids. They keep asking when Nanny Edies moving in.»
And just like that, the decision was made. What could an old woman do? She couldnt run the house alone. At least shed have her grandchildren.
***********
The cottage sold quickly. Before leaving, Edith wandered through every room, touching the walls, the doorframeseach scratch and mark a memory. Out in the garden, behind the old shed, silence pressed down on her. Not so long ago, the place had been aliveclucking hens, the goat bleating, the rustle of animals. Now, just empty space.
She scooped up a handful of soil, the earth shed worked all her life. Saying goodbye to the village where shed been born and raised was agony. Neighbours wept as she left, promising to pray for her in her new home.
One last look at the cottage, then she climbed into her sons car. What choice did she have? Such was the cruel way of old age.
At first, living with Thomas wasnt so bad. No heavy chores, no stove to tend, no animals. Everything was modern, easy. She played with the grandchildren, watched telly.
But soon, with the money from the house sale, Thomas bought a flashy new car. Granny Edith protestedsaid it wasnt wise to splurgebut he cut her off. She wasnt to worry about money, he snapped. She had a warm flat and everything she neededwhat more did she want?
She never brought it up again, though the words stung. Worse, after the car arrived, Thomas and his wife grew colder. The grandchildren stopped listening, stopped hugging her.
Soon, the family barely noticed her. Didnt ask if shed eaten, if shed slept, if she needed anything. Then came the sharp words, the snapping, the shoutingwrong place, wrong time, always in the way.
Granny Edith was miserable. If shed known shed end up unwanted, shed never have sold the house. Better to freeze or starve in her own home than be a burden in her sons, treated worse than a stranger.
She cried for her cottage every day. If she could go back, she wouldin a heartbeat. But the house was sold, other people inside now.
One day, shed had enough.
«I never thought, Tommy,» she said, voice trembling, «that my own son would care more for money than his mum. Im leaving.»
Thomas looked at the floor, silent. Only as she stepped out with her small suitcase did he mutter,
«If you get tired of wandering, Mum, you can always come back.»
She shut the door without a word, tears spilling on the stairwell. It hurtoh, it hurtthat he hadnt stopped her, hadnt held her. Just let her go with a cold offer, like she was some stray cat.
***********
It took Granny Edith over a day to reach her village. She slept at the train station, hitchhiked the rest. Tears never left her eyesnot until she saw her dear little house. The new owners had fixed it up, painted it fresh. It looked almost like it had when she and William first moved in.
Even though it wasnt hers anymore, she didnt care. She sneaked into the old pigsty loft and decided to stay. At least she was home.
Her only fear? That the owners would find her, toss her outjust like her own son had. Then shed have nowhere left. Unless the earth swallowed her whole.
They found her the very next morning. The new owner came to feed the pigs, poured the slop, then looked up.
«Come down, Granny Edith,» he said. «We need to talk.»
Her heart hammered. She hadnt expected to be caught so soon. She climbed down, bracing for the worst.
What Edwardthe man Thomas had introducedsaid next, she never saw coming.
«Granny Edie,» he said gently, «my wife and I know everything. Your son called, warned us you might come. We know things didnt work out with him.» He paused. «Wed like you to stay with us. Living in a pigsty isnt right. And truthfully, this is your home. You and your husband built it, cared for it all those years. Theres always room for you here. Now come insideget cleaned up. My wife makes a cracking good stew.»
Granny Edith burst into tearsnot of sorrow, but gratitude. Strangers had shown her more kindness than her own flesh and blood.
Stepping back into the cottage, her legs nearly gave way. The smellhome. She understood then. Because of her son, shed become a beggar in her own house. Her heart ached, yet even then, she whispered a prayer.
«God forgive Tommy. And thank You for sending me back where I belong.
