«Only My Fate»
«Mum, what are you doing here?» Emily asked, surprised to see her mother at the maternity clinic.
«Oh, Emmy, do you have an appointment today too? You didnt mention it yesterday…» Sarah lowered her eyes awkwardly.
«Mum, this is for pregnant women. Why are you here?» Emily ran a hand over her rounded belly.
«Em, I wanted to tell you…» Sarah glanced around, searching for the right words. «Well, Im expecting a baby too.»
…Sarah had Emily when she was just eighteen. The girls father had shown no interest, paying only meagre child support, and even that only after a court order.
But Sarah adored her daughter. She worked two jobs, sewing late into the night. Her friends shook their heads. «Why push yourself so hard? Youll ruin your youth!» But Sarah wouldnt listen. She wanted her girl to want for nothingthe finest chocolates, stylish coats, expensive dollswhatever Emily asked for. She denied herself everything, but her daughter never felt deprived.
Emily grew accustomed to the best. Money meant little to herif she wanted something, she bought it, even managing a seaside holiday with her class. When it came to university, she chose the most prestigious option, despite the fees. Sarah didnt argue.
In her third year, Emily met James. Older, nearly graduated, he struck Sarah as steady and sensible. She was relievedfinally, her daughter would have a dependable husband. If Emily had a child, she wouldnt be alone.
And so it happened. Emily fell pregnant. James proposed straight away, and they had a lavish wedding. Half the cost came from his parents, half from Sarah, who even treated them to a honeymoon in Cornwall.
«James, lets go for a walk,» Emily suggested.
«Sure. Lovely weather, and that new cafés opened nearby. Well grab a bite,» he smiled, resting a hand on her stomach.
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 sharply.
Two tables away sat Sarah with an unfamiliar man.
«Oh, it is her!» James turned.
Sarah noticed them and offered an awkward smile.
«Lets say hello. Whos that with her?» James started to rise.
«No. I dont even want to look!» Emily stood abruptly 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?»
«Emmy, youre grown up. I raised youdont I deserve my own life?»
James stepped in tactfully. «Everything all right, Mrs. Wilson?»
«James, its fine…»
«Come on!» Emily seized her husbands arm and nearly dragged him away.
Emily had always assumed her mother belonged solely to her. The idea of Sarah having a man was unthinkable. And truthfully, Sarah hadnt dated in yearsfearful of her daughters reaction.
Until two years ago, when her boss, Edward Hart, began pursuing her. Shed fancied him for ages but never made a move. When he showed interest, she relented.
They started seeing each other. Edward even asked her to move in. Sarah hesitated but eventually agreed. Yet she didnt know how to break it to Emily. Then came that unfortunate meeting at the café…
Later, Sarah discovered she was pregnant. At forty-threelate, yes. But abortion never crossed her mind. Edward was overjoyedchildless, he now had a son or daughter on the way.
After the café, Emily stopped answering calls. Sarah relied on James for updates. Then, another unexpected encounter at the clinic. After that, Emily cut contact entirelyblocked her number, ignored messages.
She learned of her granddaughters birth through James.
«A girl, 20 inches, 7 pounds!» he announced cheerfully.
«Congratulations! Can we visit? Id love to see her,» Sarah whispered, near tears.
«Ill try to convince Emily…»
But she refused outright. Sarah fretted, though she was already six months along herself, and the doctor had warned against stress.
Four months later, she had a girl. 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. Sarah and Edward chose Grace, after her grandmother. James occasionally sent photos»First tooth!» or «Shes walking!» Sarah hoped Emily might soften by Sophies first day at school. But she held firmthough, really, what grudge was there to keep?
On Sophies seventh birthday, Sarah called James.
«Bring Sophie to visit. Wed love to see her.»
«Ill do my best…»
That evening, James passed on the invitation.
«No,» Emily said flatly.
«But shes your mother. Grace is your sister,» he reasoned.
«She betrayed me. And I dont want to see that girl.»
So they livedseparate lives. Sarah and Edward in a country house, Emily and James in the suburbs. Sometimes, through mutual friends, Emily heard about her mother»In hospital,» «Grace has a fever.» Deep down, she longed to visit, to hug her like before. But jealousy and anger won out.
«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, can I skip swimming today?» Sophie dashed into the kitchen.
«No! We moved house just for this school!» Emily said sternly.
Just as Sarah once had, she was determined to give her daughter the best.
First day of school. James took leave to walk Sophie in. It was a long journey, but worth it for the prestigious academy with a language focus.
The bell rang. Speeches, well-wishes…
«Class 1A!» the teacher announced.
«Thats us!» Emily whispered, guiding Sophie forward.
Then, in the crowd, she spotted her mother. For a second, their eyes met. Emily couldnt hold backshe rushed to Sarah, tears spilling at last, and Sarah hugged her tightly, as she had in childhood. In that moment, every grudge melted away, as though it had never been.
