«Not a mother, but a cuckoo»
Where are you heading? Im askingwhat are you up to?
A sharp shout from her brother snapped Emily out of her morning doze. She propped herself up on her elbows in the narrow guestroom bed, listening to the sounds beyond the thin wall. For the past two weeks Emily had been staying with her older brother Mark while she looked for work and a flat in the city. The move had been hard, but there was no other optionher hometown offered no prospects.
Suddenly a highpitched baby wail filled the flat. Fourmonthold Tommy had woken after a quarrel between his parents. Emily winced and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling her dressing gown tighter.
Ive got an interview, whispered Lena, Marks wife, from the next room.
An interview? Are you out of your mind? Mark raised his voice. Youve got a newborn! What job could you possibly be thinking of? Your place is at home with the baby!
Emily waited for a response from the sisterinlaw, but the flat fell silent. Only Tommy kept crying. Then the front door slammed shut. Lena had left.
Emily slipped out of the room and headed for the kitchen. Mark stood in the middle of it, helplessly rocking the squealing infant. His face showed a mix of anger and helplessness.
Its always like this, Mark muttered when he saw Emily. She abandons the child and runs off to her own affairs.
Without a word Emily took the baby from Marks arms. The little one began to calm, burying his cheek against her shoulder. Mark slumped heavily into a chair, rubbing his eyes.
Lenas gone completely off the rails, he continued, staring into nothing. How can anyone leave a toddler and think about a job? At least my holidays started, so I can look after Tommy.
Emily gently swayed the drowsy baby, pondering Marks words.
Mark, maybe you should talk to Lena? Calmly, without shouting, Emily suggested softly. She might be dealing with something. Postnatal depression affects many women. She may need professional help.
Mark waved her off as if swatting a persistent fly.
Depression? No! Lenas always been too freespirited, a careerdriven woman. I hoped that after our son was born shed settle down, become a real mother. She doesnt seem to be changing a bit. She couldnt care less about the child!
Emily wanted to argue but stayed quiet. Finally Tommy fell asleep, and she carefully placed him in his cot.
Lena didnt return until evening. Emily was just tucking Tommy in when she heard the lock click. Her sisterinlaw passed the nursery without looking inside. Emily slipped into the hallway and saw Lena silently preparing her own dinner in the kitchen. Mark, deliberately, kept his distance, sitting in the living room in front of the television.
The atmosphere in the flat became unbearable. Emily hurried to her own room and dialed her mother.
Mum, you wouldnt believe whats happening, Emily whispered, recounting the days events.
Her mother sighed heavily on the other end.
Yes, love, Lenas been like that since the baby was born. Mark has complained to me many times. It seems her maternal instinct never switched on. Poor boy, how hard it must be for him. I cant even imagine how a child feels when his mother is absenthe senses everything…
After the call Emily lay in bed for a long time, unable to grasp how such a thing could be true. She remembered Lena before she was pregnant: a sweet, kind, helpful woman. Mark had been head over heels for her. Now the coldness toward her own child and husband was shocking. Something just didnt add up.
Lena left the house regularly. She disappeared from sunrise to sunset, leaving Mark alone with the infant. Mark took Tommy to the shop, on walks, trying to juggle childcare with chores. Emily helped as best she could, but she knew this could not go on forever.
A week later Lena came home with a bright look in her eyes. For the first time since she moved in, Emily saw a hint of a smile.
Ive got a job, Lena announced at dinner.
Mark froze, spoon halfway to his mouth, his face turning a shade of red.
Are you kidding? he snarled. You have a fourmonthold son! You should be caring for him, not dashing off to an office!
Lena answered coldly:
This is my life.
Mark lunged from his seat.
Youre selfish! You only think of yourself! Thats wrong! Youre a mother; your place is beside your child!
Emily watched Lena retreat into herself, then slip silently into the bedroom. They never saw her again that night.
The next day Emily and Mark took Tommy for a walk in the park. Mark pushed the pram and kept complaining.
Look at how she treats him. Hes her own son, and she doesnt care Mark said, eyeing the sleeping baby. She never picks him up extra, never kisses, never hugs. What kind of mother is that? Not a mother, but a cuckoo!
Emily stayed silent, unsure what to say. She felt sorry for her brother, yet something inside told her the story wasnt as simple as it seemed.
They returned home after a couple of hours. The flat was unusually quiet. Emily flicked on the hallway light.
Lena? Are you home? she called.
Silence. Emily walked through the roomsempty kitchen, empty living room. Mark, holding Tommy, headed toward the bedroom. She heard him gulp sharply. She hurried to him.
Mark stood before an open wardrobe. Half the shelves were empty; Lenas belongings were gone.
Shes left Mark breathed, his voice hoarse.
He collapsed onto the bed, still cradling his son, his shoulders trembling.
Ungrateful! After everything I gave her! he shouted. I gave her a flat, love, a marriage, a child! And she just walked away!
Emily sat beside her brother, trying to soothe him. A knot of dread tightened inside her.
Mark, what could have driven her to do that? Tell me honestly what happened between you two.
Marks eyes reddened as he stared at his sister. He stayed silent, gathering his thoughts.
The pregnancy was an accident, he finally confessed. Lena didnt want a baby. She said she wasnt ready, that she wanted to build her career first. I pressured her, saying we were both thirty, it was time to settle down, have a family. She agreed, but after the birth Emily, she never loved him. I hoped motherhood would awaken those feelings, that shed bond with the child. Instead she drifted further away.
Emily stared at him, eyes wide open. The picture she had painted of Lena shattered in an instant. All she had thought was a temperamental daughterinlaw, but the truth was far darker. Lena had been forced into motherhood she didnt want.
Mark Emily could only manage, her voice breaking.
A few days later Marks holiday ended. He returned to work, practically handing the care of Tommy over to Emily. She didnt objectafter all, the baby was innocent in his parents conflict.
A week passed. One morning Mark burst into the flat, waving a stack of papers.
Shes filing for divorce! he shouted. She wants to give up parental rights to Tommy! She said on the phone, If I wanted a child, Ill raise him myself! I have a job, a flat, I can manage. I dont need this!
Emily rocked her nephew in silence, listening to her brothers tirade. Day by day she began to understand Lena more.
The following week Emily was practically looking after the baby alone. Mark came home from work, ate dinner, and collapsed onto the bed. On weekends he slept or watched TV. All the other responsibilities fell on Emilys shoulders. She started to see why Lena had fled. Mark did nothing around the house, offered no help, only demanded.
At last Emily received good news: shed been offered a job. She found a small onebedroom flat close to the office. She was ready to move out of the cramped house. Mark didnt like the idea.
Youre abandoning us too! What about Tommy? Who will look after him? How can you just leave?
Emily looked calmly at her brother. She knew her words would hurt, but she repeated Lenas own line:
You wanted the child, Mark. So look after him yourself. Stop pushing the responsibility onto others.
Emily stood in her new flat, arranging her things on the shelves. The quiet settled around her, soothing after weeks of baby cries and Marks outbursts. She pulled a photograph from a boxa childhood picture of her and Mark, both grinning. She ran a finger over it, thinking about how even the closest people can change. The brother she had idolised turned out to be selfish, breaking his wifes life. And Lena, once condemned by everyone, was simply protecting herself.
Emily placed the photo on a shelf and turned away. A new life awaited herher own life, built on her terms.
**Lesson:**When love is demanded rather than chosen, it can turn caring into cruelty. True responsibility lies in respecting each persons wishes, not in forcing them into roles they never wanted.
