Enough with the selfmade heroine act, Olivia snapped, setting a bag of nappies and a box of baby porridge on the kitchen table. Ive seen your Instagram posts all pretty pictures. But you have no idea whats really going on.
Emma didnt look up. She stared at her phone, her face as hard as stone. In the next room her twoyearold son, Tommy, wailed for attention. Emma didnt budge.
Tommy, Im coming! their mother shouted from the master bedroom and hurried to rock her grandson.
Olivia peeled off her coat, draped it over a chair and turned back to her sister, her irritation obvious.
Tell me straight, do you really think youve got this motherhood thing figured out, or are you just parroting slogans from online forums?
Emma sighed, paused for a heartbeat, but never met Olivias eyes.
I never asked you to buy anything, she said.
Sure you didnt. As always, you sit there hungry, covered in dirty nappies while Mum pours you soup and Dad buys the next pack. Then you pretend youre some strong, independent woman.
Silence fell. Even Tommys cries faded behind the wall. Only their mothers gentle voice could be heard. Olivia closed her eyes for a moment.
They were all exhausted after a year and a half of this.
Emma had left her husband when Tommy was barely six months old. She left dramatically, accusing him of not even being able to wash a plate or change a nappy. Daniel, her ex, could only shrug. He juggled two jobs, came home late, and was so tired he sometimes fell asleep in his chair. Still, he tried washing bottles, lugging bags, even singing lullabies, however offkey.
Hes abandoned us, Emma had said then. He chose his work over us.
Olivia simply shrugged. Everyone can make their own choices.
Except when that choice means leeching off someone elses shoulder and refusing to claim childsupport. Emma now lived like she was on holiday. Her dad paid the bills, her mum cooked, and she proudly posted about inner strength and female independence.
Their mother entered the room, dark circles under her eyes.
Tommy finally fell asleep, thank God. Olivia, why are you picking on Emma again?
I? Picking on her? Olivia was ready to laugh. All you ever do is neglect his bottom, and she doesnt even notice. Shes happy with everything.
Im not asking for anything. No one owes anyone anything! Emma snapped. You just sit here and use everyones comforts.
A memory flashed of two months earlier when their dad postponed a dental crown again.
Itll be fine, he had said to Mum with a grin. We need to clothe Tommy, hes growing out of his old ones.
Dad never complained. The family later discovered he wasnt taking his essential medication because there was no money to buy it. Olivia quietly transferred funds, hoping theyd buy the pills.
Emma bolted from her seat, avoiding Olivias gaze as usual.
Olivia dont be like that. Emma
What about Emma? Shes comfortable. Its only her pride that will ruin you. Money problems arent solved with empty words. Youve had a stroke, Dads heart is shaky, and she pretends shes the heroine of some dramatic soap alone, proud, misunderstood.
Mum looked at her daughter with pain. Everyone understood, but no one could act.
Olivia headed for the door, pausing at the threshold. She wanted to say something kind, something that would keep Mum from crying later.
Take care of the firstaid kit and speak to Dad. Ill bring the tablets tomorrow if yours run out.
Ol thank you, Mum whispered, grateful.
Olivia left without looking back, knowing tears would follow.
A week passed. Olivia visited less often. She wasnt angry; she just didnt want to see the decay at her parents house. She came to drop off money, medication, a toy for Tommy, then left quickly. Emma accepted everything with a detached air, as if it were normal.
One morning Olivia opened her contacts and saw a name she hadnt used in ages Kyle. Hed once worked with Daniel. Hope fluttered. Perhaps it was a sign.
Three days later they met at a small café in Manchester. Olivia fidgeted with a napkin. Daniel arrived seven minutes late, apologized, and sat down. Hed lost a few pounds; the weight made him look older, not leaner.
Im not abandoning my son, he began after listening to Olivias story. Ive tried to make things right. Even when I send money, Emma returns it and throws a fit.
They wont last forever, Olivia sighed. Dad halves his pills. Mum refused the rehab centre. And Emma she clings to weird principles. No ones to blame for her quirks.
Daniel nodded, clearly intent on solving the problem.
Heres a plan. Ill send you money, youll distribute it. Send receipts or photos whatever works. I just want Tommy to have a normal life and my parents not to suffer because of all this.
Olivia wasnt sure she was doing the right thing. It felt like betrayal, yet her sister wasnt a saint either.
Two days later the first transfer arrived: ten pounds. Olivia immediately gave the cash to Mum, who was surprised only by the amount, not by the fact that her daughter was helping again.
A smaller transfer followed for Dads medication, then another for Tommys shoes.
Emma pretended not to notice, or at least acted as if she didnt.
One evening Olivia stopped by for half an hour. Emma was in the bath, Tommy watched cartoons, Mum kneaded dumplings, and Dad rolled out the dough.
Olivia, thanks to your money we bought Tommy a new jacket! Mum beamed. Youre such a darling, always helping. Were getting a bit embarrassed to keep asking. Maybe well manage on our own soon?
Olivia felt a pang. Shed taken unsolicited praise before, and it always weighed on her conscience. Now the whole chain of aid might snap.
Mom I need to tell you and Dad something. Its not me, its Daniel. Hes the one helping, she whispered.
Silence fell. Dad stopped rolling the dough, Mum froze with a spoon midair.
Daniel? she repeated. Emma said hed vanished completely.
Yes. He told me hes cut off Emmas phone because she ignores him, Olivia sighed. Its not all shes said. Truth is always somewhere in the middle. What matters is that help is coming.
Mum and Dad took the news calmly, almost relieved. Now they could accept the money without guilt.
But a new problem emerged.
Thanks to Daniel, things are a bit easier, Mum murmured to Dad about the next months budget.
Mum didnt know Olivia was still up late, listening with a keen ear.
Then it all exploded.
So youre taking money from my ex behind my back? Traitors! Youre all in on this! Emma stormed into the kitchen. Youve conspired against me!
A fullblown interrogation followed. Mum cracked under the pressure, and later Emma called Olivia in the dead of night.
You think youre clever, sneaking around? Youve humiliated me! My child doesnt need charity! she shouted.
Honestly, Emma, what are you saying? Olivia yawned, halfasleep. Im just doing what you cant you lack both energy and conscience. Stop blaming the sick for your own troubles.
Enough! I dont need anyones help! Ill manage on my own! Emma screamed, slamming the door and dragging Tommys pram out into the night, never saying where she was headed.
The words of her friend Lara, spoken six months earlier, echoed in her mind: If you need anything, just call. They had seemed like nice sentiment then, now they were a lifeline.
Lara didnt refuse. She welcomed Tommy, cooked dinner, and gently probed what had happened.
Its stifling here, Emma muttered. I just want to live alone for a while.
The first night was quiet. Lara even enjoyed the company; it wasnt so lonely. But the next morning the cracks appeared. Emma left dishes in the sink, complained about the food being too salty or too greasy, and hoarded a sealed jar of coffee she hadnt asked for.
Later that day she begged Lara for a loan.
My last penny went on nappies. Could you spare a bit until I find work? she pleaded.
Lara forced a tight smile, promising to look into it. That evening, when Tommy finally fell asleep, Lara approached Emma.
Ive got a situation. Arthur is coming from Derby. You remember him, right? Wed arranged for him to stay. She paused. Do you want me to leave?
Do you want me to go? Emma asked, panic flashing.
Not exactly. It just happened. Maybe you have somewhere else to stay? Lara suggested gently.
Yeah, I can manage, Emma replied, though her throat tightened. She packed in silence, eyes swollen, and slipped out without a proper goodbye.
Standing on the stairwell, she felt emptier than ever ashamed, terrified, the world closing in. Going back to her parents was impossible. With Lara she had no future, and Daniel was a distant hope.
She remembered Daniels desperate attempts to reconcile. She hadnt ignored him completely, and out of all the people who could help, he was the only one left. She dialed his number.
Hello?
Its me Emma. Could we stay with you for a few days? Just Tommy and me.
A pause, then a cautious, warm reply. Of course.
The conversation ended, and a tentative new life began awkward, without trust, but at least moving forward.
Olivia learned of the reunion first. Her parents tried calling Emma, got no answer, gave up after three days. On the fourth day Olivia finally reached her.
Hello? Emmas voice was low, almost deflated.
Where are you? Whats happening? Olivia asked.
Were with Daniel. Tommys fine. Emma replied.
Olivia raised an eyebrow, surprised but relieved. Well, better than being a burden on Mum and Dad.
And so the small, uneasy family unit formed. The lesson that lingered for all of them was simple: pride may keep us standing tall, but true strength lies in accepting help and sharing the load, for no one should have to shoulder the weight of life alone.
