“Serves you right, Mum…”
“Mum, your phones ringing again,” called Matthew from behind Emily.
“Who is it?” Emily turned her head toward her son.
“Dunno,” he shrugged.
“Fetch it for me, will you?”
“Hold on,” Matthew shouted, darting off before quickly returning and shoving the mobile into her hand.
“Ta. Go on, play. Dinners nearly ready,” Emily said. As her son scampered away, she glanced at the screen.
Againthe same number. The hospital. How had they even got her number? Emily covered the frying pan and turned off the gas before silencing the phone and tucking it behind the curtains on the windowsill.
As she set the table, her mind churned over the calls. Later, she padded over to her husband. James was hunched over the computer. Emily crept up behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and resting her chin on his head.
“Whatre you up to?”
“Just scrolling. Dinner soon?”
“All done. Matthew, dinner!” Emily straightened up. “Make sure he washes his hands,” she told James, moving to leave, but he caught her wrist.
“Hold on. Who called?”
“Dunno. Number I didnt recognise, so I ignored it. Thought you were hungry?” She pulled her hand free and headed back to the kitchen.
After dinner, she switched her phone back on. Too late for anyone to ring now.
Sleep didnt come easily that night. Why had she answered the first time?
*”This is the hospital. Your mothers with us in the ward Could you come in? There are matters to discuss…”*
“Sorry, but I dont have a mother,” Emily had replied before hanging up. Theyd rung again and again, but she never picked up. *”Might as well go. They wont stop otherwiselast thing I need is them turning up here. Better if shed just died…”* For years, Emily had buried her mother in her mind.
The next day, she worked till lunch, then headed to the hospital. When she entered the ward managers office and announced herself, the man in the white coat looked up sharply.
“Finally. Your name?”
“Emily.”
“Middle name?”
“Just Emily,” she said flatly.
“Why havent you visited your mother, Emily? Were discharging her, but youve ignored every call. Not right, is it?”
“I told youI dont have a mother,” she repeated, irritation flaring.
“And who is Anne Thompson to you, then?”
The doctor studied her. It took everything in her not to say shed never heard the name. But he wouldnt drop it.
“How did you get my number?” she countered.
“From her phone. You were saved as Emily, daughter.”
“Howd she even have it?”
“Ask herwhen she can speak again.” The doctor spread his hands.
“She cant talk?”
“No speech, no movement. Paralysed after a stroke. You didnt know? Hows that possible, Emily”
“Serves her right.” The words slipped out before she could stop them.
“Pardon? Did I hear that right?” The doctor narrowed his eyes.
Emily met his gaze. “Yes. You heard right. She dumped me, left me at a childrens homeno, worse. Handed me to some relative and vanished. The relative dumped me there. Twenty years without a wordshe was dead to me. What dyou think of that, Doctor?”
His expression softened. “Thats between you and her. Not my business. Theres no point keeping your mother here. If you refuse to take her?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then well have to move her to a care home. Youre her only relative, so we needed”
“Ill sign whatever,” Emily cut in. She hadnt dared hope itd be this straightforward.
“Not so fast. Theres a catch. She needs round-the-clock carecant eat, cant move. State homes might not take her. Private ones will, but its costly.
“Were a hospitalwe treat, we dont arrange care. Thats on family. Think it over Can you cover her fees?”
“I said Im not taking her,” Emily repeated. “What if I didnt exist? Whod handle it then?”
“Social services. Fine, well send her paperwork their way, but we need your consent. Payment guarantees, you understand”
“Can I go?” Emily hovered by the door.
The doctor handed her a card. “Contact details. Your mothers in Ward Four.”
As she walked the corridor, war raged inside her. Part of her wanted to leave; another wanted to see her mothers punishment firsthand.
She pushed open the ward door. Three women lay in beds, all around the same age. Two stared blankly; the thirds eyes were closed. Emily took a step toward herthen spun on her heel and left.
Shed glimpsed her mother six months ago but hadnt expected this frailty. Pity flickered, but she smothered it.
All the way home, she agonised. *”Shes still my mother. But if Id needed her, she wouldnt have come. She threw me
