Veras Happiness
“Vera, whats that on your arm?” asked Emily, her coworker, spotting the large bruise Vera had tried to hideuntil she lifted her hand and revealed it.
“I walked into the doorframe in the dark,” Vera replied flatly. “Forgot to turn the light on.”
Emily narrowed her eyes but said nothing more. It wasnt her place to pry.
Weeks later, Vera arrived with a black eye.
“Let me guessanother doorframe?” Emily asked pointedly.
“Shes lying,” cut in Sophie, the neighbour from next door. “Its her husband, Thomas. I hear him shouting through the walls. You know how thin they are in these terrace houses. Why do you cover for him, Vera? That man needs putting in his place, and you just take it.”
The women huddled together.
“Shes right, Vera,” someone murmured. “Leave him before its too late. The children see everything. And weve all noticed.”
Vera broke down. Someone handed her water; another pulled her into an embrace. They soothed her until her tears slowed.
Vera and Thomas had moved to the village from the countryside years ago, though no one knew why. Thomas was a tall, gaunt man with a heavy brow and a cold stare. He barely spoke to anyone, even at work. Vera, on the other hand, was short, round-faced, and quick to laugh. Shed settled easily into the community, making friends fast. They had two childrenLily and Henry.
News travelled quickly in the village. Soon, Thomass bossEmilys husbandheard about the bruises and the drinking. Every evening, Thomas sent Vera to the pub if he hadnt already bought whiskey. She went, resigned.
One day, his boss pulled him aside. “Thomas, I know its none of my business, but you cant lay hands on a woman. Got too much anger? Go wrestle with the blacksmith. See how long you last.”
Thomas muttered something under his breath and stalked off.
Eventually, Vera confided in the women. “He drinks every night. Doesnt matter if theres money or not. If I refuse to go, its worse. Hell pick a fight over anythingjust to have an excuse.”
“Then leave him!”
“Its not that simple,” Vera sighed. “Hes threatened to keep Henry. He doesnt care for Lily, but he turns Henry against meteaches him to hit her. If I interfere, he tells Henry to hit me too. Theres no way out.”
“Theres always a way,” Emily insisted.
“Not for me.” Veras voice was hollow. “We left our old village thinking hed change. But he only got worse. Back home, people knewsome pitied me, others sneered. Thomas insisted we move to get away from my mother. Shed confront him when she saw the bruises. Theyd threaten each other. I thought hed be ashamed here but nothing changes a man like that. Only the grave.”
They stayed two years before returning home. No one heard from them again.
Five years later, in the city market, Sophie nearly walked past Vera without recognising her.
“Sophie! Dont you know me?” Vera called.
Sophie turned, staring. “Vera? Is that really you? You lookdifferent.”
And she did. Her hair was neatly cropped; she wore smart trousers and a crisp blouse.
“Lifes been kind?” Sophie asked. “You left him?”
“Are you in a hurry?”
“My coach isnt for another hour. Weve time. How are the children?”
“Theyre well. Lilys top of her class. Henrys doing fine toopolite, studious.”
“And Thomas?”
“Thomas is gone.”
“Good riddance,” Sophie said.
Vera shook her head. “Not divorced. My mother shes in prison now.”
Sophie gasped. “What happened?”
“He was beating me again. Mum walked in, saw it, grabbed the nearest thinga hammer. Id been fixing a nail in the wall, and he flew into a rage over the noise. She swung, he turnedhit his temple. She didnt mean to, but”
Sophie exhaled. “I wont mourn him. But your poor mother”
Vera nodded silently.
“Youve bloomed, though. Lifes better?”
“Yes.” Vera smiled. “I remarried two years ago. Andrew and I we were sweethearts in school. But Thomas got in the way.”
Sophie frowned. “Didnt you see what he was like?”
“I knew. But Andrew was away at university. One night, Thomas cornered me, forced himself on me, then blackmailed me into marriage. I couldnt tell Andrewhed have killed Thomas. So I pushed him away, married Thomas and suffered.”
After the wedding, Andrew left the village. No one knew where.
“Is it Andrew now?” Sophie asked.
Veras face lit up. “Yes. He forgave meunderstands everything. I met him by chance one evening. Hed heard about Thomas, came back for me.”
Theyd talked for hours that night.
“Andrew, you never married?” Vera had asked.
“Once. Lasted six months. Couldnt love heralways thought of you. She knew. But living with someone you dont love Its no life.”
Vera had nodded. “I know that now.”
Sophie squeezed her hand. “Look at youglowing. Love suits you.”
They parted ways, each hurrying to their coach. And in Veras home, all was well. She and Andrew cherished every moment, as if making up for lost time.
Shed waited so long for her happiness. At last, it had come.
