So, listen to thisits a proper love story, the kind that makes you believe in fate.
Mary and her husband, Michael, came home after the funeral of his mum, AnnaMarys mother-in-law. They were exhausted, hearts heavy.
«At least shes at peace now, buried next to Dad,» Michael sighed. «She kept asking for that while she was ill.»
«Yeah,» Mary murmured. «Like wed ever bury her anywhere elsebut it was all she could think about.» She rubbed her tired eyes. «Poor woman. That disease was cruel.»
That evening, they sat quietly, lost in their own thoughts. Marys mind drifted back to her own pastnothing easy about it. Shed lost both parents young, in a fire at her grans house after her grandads funeral. Theyd stayed the night, and by morning, the whole place had gone up in flames. No one made it out.
Mary had been home with her older brother, Nick. One moment they had a family; the next, they were orphans. The village folk whispered, «Old George took his wife and Marys parents with him when he went.»
Nick was seventeen, Mary just thirteen. They stuck together in their little cottage. Nick worked odd jobs; Mary went to school. Life wasnt kind, but she got by, even if she still couldnt believe how cruel it had been.
Their village was tinyjust forty-two houses. The school only went up to Year 4, so after that, kids had to trek three miles to the next village. In winter, theyd cut across the frozen river to save time. Back in the day, old Mr. Jenkins used to take them by horse and cart on Mondays, and fetch them Saturdays. The older lads, though? They preferred walkingespecially the lot led by Mike, the chairmans son.
«Anyone heading home today, meet by the bench after lessons!» hed call. And off theyd gothree miles wasnt so bad in a group. The woods were spooky alone, but together? No bother.
Mary grew up beautifulsoft as a summer morning, with a voice like honey. Every lad in the village fancied her. Even the older boys couldnt help staring. One glance from her, and a bloke would be lovestruck for weeks.
She was clever, kindthe sort of girl who had everything going for her. Only downside? She was an orphan, living with Nick and his wife, Lucy, who made no secret of resenting her.
«Ill leave after school,» Mary vowed. «Train as a chef, get out of here. Lucyll never let me be at peace.»
She never complained to Nick. It was his family now, not hers.
Thenrumours spread. Mike and Mary were together. Holding hands, walking home from school, inseparable. They made a striking pairhim tall and broad-shouldered, her delicate as a rose. The village gossips tittered. «Those two? Wedding bells soon, mark my words.»
But Mikes parents werent having it. His dad, Simon, was the village bigwigfirst to own a car, a motorbike, a proper farmhouse.
«That orphan girls got nothing!» Simon scoffed to his wife, Anne. «Our boy deserves bettersomeone from a good family, like the agronomists daughter.»
Anne fretted. «Hes head over heels, Simon. How dyou plan to stop him?»
Simon smirked. «Leave it to me.»
First, he tried reasoning with Mike. «Forget her, son. Shes got no prospects.»
Mike stood his ground. «Im marrying Mary. End of.»
So Simon got crafty. He visited Lucy, Nicks wife, and slipped her a wad of cash. «Ship Mary off to your Aunt Clara up in Yorkshire. Make it happen.»
Lucy, never one to turn down money, convinced Nick. Next thing Mary knew, she was bundled onto a train, sobbing, with nothing but an address crumpled in her hand.
Mike was gutted. He barely spoke to his parents after that. When he left for his military service, his letters home were cold. Thentwo years laterhe wrote:
«Bringing my fiancée home. Prepare the wedding.»
Simon crowed, «See? Told you hed forget her!»
The village buzzed. The chairmans son, bringing a bride from afar! When the taxi pulled up, everyone gathered. Out stepped Mike in uniformand then, in a white dress Mary.
The crowd gasped. Simon and Anne froze.
«Meet my wife,» Mike announced, grinning.
The village erupted. Cheers, laughtereven Simon had to swallow his pride. The wedding was legendary.
They lived happilytwo sons, a cosy home. Mary never held a grudge. If two people are meant to be, life finds a way.
Years passed. Simon died first. Anne followed, heartbroken. Mary nursed her tenderlythis woman whod once scorned her, but had become like a mother.
Now, the house is quiet. Just Mary and Michael, mourning. But life goes on. Always does.
