**Diary Entry**
Late one night, the phone rang. I picked it up and heard my daughters voice on the other end.
“Mum, its me, Emily. Ive got a problem! My husbands kicked me out. Ill come with Dad in the morning and stay at home.”
“Listen, Emily, you dont have parents or a home anymore.”
“What?” she interrupted. “What did you say? How can there be no home? Im your only daughter. I have a right to this flat!” she shrieked hysterically.
“Thats how it is,” I replied calmly. “You dont have a flat. We gave it to Lucyshe owns it now. Your father and I want nothing more to do with you. Youre not our daughter. Dont call again. You lost everything!” I ended the call sharply. After what Emily had done, I had every right to say it.
Staring out the window, I suddenly remembered how this whole mess had started with another phone call years ago.
That dreadful call came early in the morning. I leapt out of bed and rushed to the landline.
“Hello?”
A muffled sob came from the other end.
“Yes, hello? Whos this?”
“Margaret, its me, Claire.”
“Claire, why are you scaring me like this? Do you know what time it is?”
“I do. Margaret, Im going into hospital today for an operation. Im terrified for my daughter. Im begging you and Robertdont abandon Lucy. Shes still so little. Dont send her to an orphanage.”
My sister Claire had always been eccentric, full of wild ideas and impulsive actions. But this time, shed crossed a line. My hands shook as I gripped the receiver, sensing something terribly wrongsomething I couldnt yet grasp. Fear coiled in my chest.
“Claire, why didnt you tell me sooner? Whats happening? Where are they taking you?”
Claire had been ill for years but never made a fuss. Last month, the pain worsened. She lost weight, grew gaunt. The diagnosis was grim. She needed urgent surgery but hadnt mustered the courage to tell me. Id always supported her, given her money, been like a mother to her. And now she was dumping her problemsand her childon me again.
“Margaret, they cant guarantee the outcome. Please, dont abandon Lucy.”
An hour later, we were at the hospital. The surgery hadnt started yet, but we werent allowed to see Claire. In the hallway, little Lucy sat curled up in a chair. I went to her and hugged her tight.
“Are they going to hurt Mummy?” she whispered, tears in her eyes.
“No, darling. Mummy wont feel a thing. Shell be asleep.”
Four hours later, the doctor emerged to tell us my younger sister had passed away.
We took Lucy home. I went into my daughters room and explained that Lucys mother had died and shed be sharing the room now. Emily glared at me but stayed silent.
Ten days later, Emily threw Lucys things out of the room and forbade her from returning. Reasoning with my daughter was impossibleshe refused to budge, swearing shed toss Lucys belongings every time we tried. To avoid constant battles, we gave our niece our bedroom and moved into the living room ourselves.
Lucy was an orphan. Claire had never revealed who the father was. Now, her fate rested solely with us. So we never treated her differently from Emily. Both were our daughters.
Time passed. Emily graduated and married a wealthy older man named Edward. He was far older, but she didnt care. She packed her things and moved in with him. A month later, she announced the wedding.
“Mum, just dont bring your favouritethat little suck-upto the wedding. I dont want her there.”
“Emily, you cant do this. Lucys your sister. Not inviting her is an insult to us.”
“She wont be at my wedding!” Emily snapped.
“Then neither will we.”
“Fine! Deal!”
I broke down sobbing, but I pulled myself together and decided to book a holiday in Brighton instead.
“What about the wedding?” Robert asked, shocked.
“Nothing. Were not invited.”
“Lucy, help me find a nice place to stay.”
“Are we going on holiday?” Lucy asked.
“Yes, love. We can afford it.”
“Hurrah!” she cheered, spinning around the room.
The three of us stayed together. Lucy finished school and got into university with top marks, studying Architecture. Her mother had been a brilliant painter, quite well-known in her field. Lucy took after heror perhaps her father. Robert suspected a prominent local figure might be the dad, but I didnt care. Lucy was ours.
A year later, we celebrated Lucys 18th birthdaythe same day Robert fell ill. He turned ghostly pale and collapsed. We called an ambulance, and he was rushed to the hospital.
The doctor said it was serious. Only an expensive imported drug could save him. The hospital could order it, but it would take three daysand the cost was staggering. Desperate, I rang Emily, knowing Edward had money to spare.
She answered, and I explained the crisis.
“Emily, darling, your fathers ill. He needs this medicine urgently, but the price I need to borrow the amount.”
A long silence made my stomach knot. Just as I opened my mouth to repeat myself, she spoke.
“Alright, Mum. Ill talk to Edward and call you back.”
An hour later, she rang.
“Mum, thing is Edwards promised me a new car. Hes finally keeping his word. But hes set a conditioneither I get the car, or we give you the money.”
“Emily, sweetheart, well pay you back. I swear.”
“Dont be daft. When would you? Bit by bit? Id never see that car in my dreams.”
“Do you hear yourself? Your father could die!”
“I cant help. Get a loan if you must. The world doesnt revolve around you.”
The phone slipped from my hand. I nearly fainted.
“Aunt Margaret, whats wrong?”
Lucy caught me before I fell. I wept uncontrollably.
“Listen, Aunt Margaretlets sell Mums flat. I cant bear to live there anyway. Sell it below market value, get the deposit for the doctors.”
“Love, we cant. Its yours. What would your mother think?”
“Aunt Margaret, youre smarter than this. Does it matter what Mum would think? Uncle Roberts life is at stake. Thats what counts. We need to act fast.”
I hugged her, speechless with gratitude. She was rightit was our only chance.
We sold the flat that very day. The buyer paid a deposit, and with the funds, we secured the medicine. Two days later, it arrivedand it worked. Lucy saved Roberts life. A month later, he was fully recovered. Our joy was boundless.
Once he was well, we transferred the flat to Lucys name. The remaining money went into savings. We lived happily togetheruntil that late-night call.
Emily, dumped by Edward, demanded to come home.
I told her no.
“We have one daughter: Lucy.”
I hung up.
A few years later, Lucy married James, a farmer with a thriving business in the countryside. They had a lovely home and planned to open a small cannery factory. They invited us to live with them, but we preferred visiting a few times a week.
Our room was always readytidy, welcoming. Robert and James became fast friends, often fishing together. Lucy designed the factory plans. We lived in harmony, a happy familyjust not always under one roof.
The only time we remembered Emily was on the anniversary of her weddingthe same day Robert and I had gone to Brighton for that long-ago holiday. Lucy arranged our trips now, sometimes joining us.
Every year, on that day, I wondered how Id raised such a selfish girlone whod put a luxury car above her own fathers life. And Lucy, orphaned so young, valued us above all else. Shed have given everything for our happiness.
**Lesson learned:** Blood doesnt always make family. Love does.
