«Just My Fate»
«Mum, what are you doing here?» Emily gasped, spotting her mother in the maternity clinic.
«Oh, love, do you have an appointment today too? You didnt mention anything yesterday…» Sarah lowered her eyes, flustered.
«Mum, this is for pregnant women. Why are you here?» Emily ran a hand over her rounded belly.
«Sweetheart, I meant to tell you…» Sarah glanced around, searching for words. «Well, Im expecting too.»
…Sarah had Emily at eighteen. The girls father showed no interest, paying measly child support only after court orders. But Sarah adored her daughter. She worked two jobs, sewed late into the night. Friends would shake their heads: «Why push yourself so hard? Youre wasting your youth!» But Sarah wouldnt listen. Her girl would want for nothingthe finest chocolates, trendy coats, expensive dolls. She denied herself everything, yet Emily never felt deprived.
Emily grew accustomed to the best. Money meant littleshe wanted, she bought, even whisked her class away on a seaside trip. When uni came, she chose the most prestigiousand priciestcourse. Sarah didnt argue.
In her third year, Emily met James. Older, nearly graduated, he struck Sarah as steadya reliable man. She rejoiced: at last, her girl would have a proper husband, someone to lean on. Even if she had a baby, she wouldnt be alone.
And so it happened. Emily fell pregnant. James proposed straight away; they threw a lavish wedding. His parents covered half, Sarah the resteven gifting them a getaway to Brighton.
«James, lets go for a walk,» Emily suggested.
«Sure. Gorgeous out, and that new cafés opened nearby. Fancy a bite?» He smiled, stroking her bump.
They strolled the park, fed the pigeons, then stopped at the café. Just as they sat, Emily paled.
«Whats wrong?» James frowned.
«Mum…» she muttered.
Two tables away sat Sarah with a stranger.
«Oh, right!» James turned.
Sarah spotted them, offering a sheepish smile.
«Lets say hello. Whos that with her?» James began to rise.
«No. I cant even look!» Emily bolted 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 grandma?»
«Emily, youre grown. I raised youdont I deserve my own life?»
James tactfully stepped in: «Everything alright, Sarah?»
«Fine, love»
«Lets *go*!» Emily dragged James away.
Emily had always assumed her mother belonged solely to her. The idea of Sarah with a man? Unthinkable. Yet Sarah *hadnt* datedfearing her daughters reaction.
Until two years ago, when her boss, Robert, started courting her. Sarah had fancied him for ages but never acted. When he showed interest, she gave in.
They dated. Robert even asked her to move in. Sarah hesitated but finally agreedonly she couldnt find the words to tell Emily. Then *this* disastrous encounter…
Later, Sarah discovered she was pregnant. At forty-threelate, yes. But abortion never crossed her mind. Robert was overjoyed; hed no children of his own.
After the café, Emily stopped answering calls. Updates came only through James. Thenanother shockthe clinic run-in. After that, radio silence. Blocked numbers, ignored texts.
Sarah learned of her granddaughters birth from her son-in-law.
«Girl, 21 inches, 7 pounds!» James cheered.
«Congratulations! Can we visit? Id love to see her,» Sarah whispered, near tears.
«Ill try to persuade Emily…»
But she refused outright. Sarah fretted, though doctors warned hersix months alongto avoid stress.
Four months later, she had a girl. She texted Emily: *You have a sister now.* Silence. Only James sent flowers and rang.
Years passed. The girls grew. Emily and James named theirs Sophie. Sarah and Robert chose Lily, after her gran. James occasionally sent snaps: «First tooth!» or «Shes walking!» Sarah hoped Emily might soften by Sophies first school day. But she held firmas if thered ever been anything to forgive.
On Sophies seventh birthday, Sarah called James:
«Bring Sophie over. Wed love to see her.»
«Ill try…»
That evening, James relayed the invite.
«No,» Emily snapped.
«But shes your mumand Lilys your sister,» he reasoned.
«She betrayed me. And I dont want to see that girl.»
So they livedside by side, yet apart. Sarah and Robert in a countryside cottage; Emily and James in the suburbs. Sometimes, through mutual friends, Emily heard updates: «Sarahs in hospital,» «Lilys got a fever.» Deep down, she longed to rush over, hug her mum like old times. But jealousy and anger won.
«James, we still need Sophies hairbands and school shoes,» Emily said at dinner.
«Plenty of time. Cant believe shes seven already…»
«Mum, can I skip ballet today?» Sophie burst into the kitchen.
«No! We moved *here* for that school!» Emily said sternly.
Just like Sarah once had, she gave her child every advantage.
First day of school. James took leave to walk Sophie in. A trek, but worth ita top-tier academy with language streams.
The bell rang, speeches followed…
«Class 1A!» the teacher announced.
«Thats us!» Emily whispered, guiding Sophie forward.
Thenin the crowdshe saw her mother. Their eyes met. For a second, time froze. Then Emily broke, sprinting to Sarah, tears shed bottled for years finally spilling as Sarah hugged her tightjust like in childhoodand in that instant, every grudge melted away, as if it had never been.
