The weight of guilt clung to him like a shadow.
Emilys life had split into before and after. She was a bright Year 11 student, but home was anything but peaceful. Her mother, Margaret, was the cause of their turmoil, constantly berating her father, William, demanding more, while coddling Emily with hollow sympathy.
William worked tirelessly, yet nothing was ever enough for Margaret.
*”Our furniture is outdatedits embarrassing. The Harrisons next door redid their entire house. Why cant we?”* Emily never understood why they had to keep up with the neighbours.
*”Its still functional,”* her father reasoned. *”Emilys nearly grownshell need money soon, whether for uni or a wedding.”*
*”And the car! A rust bucket, while my sister and her husband drive a brand-new BMW!”* Margarets voice was sharp, unrelenting.
Money was her obsession. She never spared William a shred of kindness, calling him a failure, a disappointment. Emilys heart ached for himstrong on the outside, yet broken within.
That evening, the shouting started again.
*”I shouldve married Simon! Id be living in luxury now, not scraping by with you!”*
Emily slammed her bedroom door, but the words seeped through. *”Youll always be a loser! Im filing for divorce tomorrow!”*
*”If you leave Dad, Im staying with him,”* Emily burst out, defiance burning in her chest.
*”Ungrateful little!”* A slap struck her cheekthe first time her mother had ever hit her. Stunned, Emily grabbed her schoolbag and fled into the darkening streets, blind with tears. She didnt see the car.
James had fought with his wife, Victoria, that day. Five years married, no childrenshed always refused, saying the time wasnt right. But lately, their arguments had grown bitter. Victoria took and took, giving nothing in return.
She couldnt love. Couldnt care. Cooking was beneath her; their meals came from the corner takeaway. When James complained, she sneered, *”If you want gourmet, take me to a restaurant. Oh waityoure just a foreman, not some tycoon.”*
That night, the fridge was empty. *”Starve, then,”* shed spat.
Hungry, furious, he drove too fast. The road was unlit, no crossingsno reason to slow down. Then, a flash of movement. A girl. The impact sent her tumbling into the ditch.
*”What have I done?”* The hospital, the trialhe confessed everything. Shed run into the road, yes, but hed been speeding. Margaret screamed for maximum prison time, bleeding him dry in compensation. His car, his savingsgone.
Prison was almost a relief. Victoria divorced him instantly, stripping their flat bare. But at least she couldnt take his nans old house.
Alone, James replayed his mistakes. *”I shouldve left Victoria years ago.”*
Guilt gnawed at him. People said hed paid his duesthe girl had run out, after all. But she was paralysed. That wouldnt fade.
Released in spring, he returned to an empty life. His old boss took him back*”We know it wasnt your fault.”*
Yet nights were long. *”If I hadnt been so angry”*
His mum begged him to move on. *”Find a nice girl. Start fresh.”*
Then, online, he found herEmily. Not a girl anymore, but a woman, smiling in every photo, leaning on a cane. She was strong. Living.
He messaged her, not expecting a reply. But she answered. They talked. When he asked how she could bear speaking to him, she said, *”I pity you.”*
*”Why?”*
*”My spine healed. My leg didnt. But you you lost everything. And my mother? She loves that Im broken. Still milks Dad for money. I think shed have bled you dry too, if she could.”*
Weeks passed. Then James realisedhe loved her. They met in secret, until he insisted: *”Tell your mother. Or I will.”*
Emily called. Margarets shrieks pierced the silence. *”Stay away from her, you monster!”*
Thensilence. No calls. No word.
Two days later, Margaret rang. *”Shes in hospital. She tried to”*
James ran. Outside Emilys room, her parents waitedher father stood as he approached.
*”Im not happy to see you,”* the man said softly. *”But Emily loves you. Thats enough.”*
The doctor allowed one visitor. Margaret moved to enter, but her husband held her back, nodding at James.
Inside, Emily smiled weakly. *”I waited for you. Dont leave again.”*
Years later, theyre happya home, a son. No interference. No guilt. Just peace.
