Fate Had Other Plans
Everyone has their own destinysome days it shoves you headfirst into a whirlpool, leaving you gasping for air. Other times, it hands you such joy and happiness that, well, you still cant breathe, but in a good way.
Charlotte was young and green, with barely any life experience, but her fate had already been written in the stars. On that frosty afternoon, she stood by her grandmothers grave, watching as the cold earth swallowed the coffin. Her heart felt hollow, numb from losing the only person whod truly loved her. After her parents passed in a car crash when she was ten, her gran, Margaret, had raised her.
A light snow fell, but Charlotte barely noticed. The handful of mourners had already shuffled off toward the cemetery gates, leaving only a few stragglers behind. Then her cousin, Oliver, sauntered overa man she hadnt spoken to in years. Hed never once visited Gran, thanks to some long-standing family feud between her and his mother.
Oliver leaned in, his voice low but firm.
“Youre not staying in Grans house. Pack your things and clear out today. Ive got as much right to it as you do. And dont even think about arguing.”
He didnt ask. Just declared it, like it was the law. And Charlotte? She was too drained to fight. Gran had been bedridden for months, and shed cared for her until the end. Arguing with Oliver was pointlesshed toss her out anyway. Besides, grief still clouded her every thought.
The wake was held in a modest pub, and Oliver didnt even bother showing up. Few people did. When Charlotte returned to the house, her bags were already by the door.
“Double-check your things. I mightve missed something. Then leave,” he said.
Standing on the pavement with two suitcases, she had no idea where to go. But then Vera, the neighbour, peeked out from her gate and waved her over.
“Come inside, love,” she said.
Charlotte slumped onto a chair by the door and burst into tearsgrief, anger, betrayal, all pouring out in messy, hiccuping sobs. Vera handed her a glass of water.
“Stay with us for now. Well sort something out. Sleep on itthings always look better in the morning.”
Two days later, Charlotte dragged herself back to work as a nurse at the local hospital. She was pretty, kind, and always had a smile that could melt icethough today, her eyes were dull with sadness.
Everyone at the hospital knew about Grans passing. Patients adored her, joking that just seeing her made their aches vanish.
“Charlotte, love, youve got magic in those hands,” chuckled Mr. Thompson, a sweet old man with a hip replacement. “If only I were fifty years younger…”
Shed smile at the compliments, but her heart wasnt in it. She loved her job, loved helping peoplebut without Gran, everything felt grey.
Then Matron Eleanor, the head nurse, offered her a lifeline.
“You can stay at my cottage. Bit of a trek on the bus, but its empty most of the year. Bit chilly in winter, but youll manage.”
Charlotte was about to accept when Dr. James, the dashing new registrar, swooped in. Tall, confident, and annoyingly handsome, hed only joined the hospital a few months ago.
“Charlotte,” he said, flashing a grin, “heard about your situation. My gran raised me tooparents split when I was little, and neither wanted the baggage. The moment I saw you, I thought, Now theres a girl with eyes like sunshine. And, well… Id like you to move in with me.”
She turned beetroot.
“But… what about Dr. Penelope? Youre dating her, arent you?”
James laughed. “Blimey, hospital gossips worse than a soap opera. Penny and I were at med school togetherthats it. Shes a mate. And stop calling me sir, Im not your granddad.”
Dr. Penelope Hathaway, the glamorous anaesthetist, was stunningbut there was something predatory in her smile. Charlotte couldnt believe James fancied *her*, let alone wanted to *live* together.
“I cant just move in,” she stammered. “What will people say?”
“Ive got a massive flat. Youll have your own room. Scouts honourno funny business. I want you to *want* to be there. Oh, and I dont live alone. My gran, Edith, lives with me. Lovely woman. Shes been nagging me to bring a girl home for years.”
Charlotte caved. A proper roof over her head? A handsome doctor who fancied her? Maybe her luck was finally turning.
She moved in, and the hospital bought the cover storyJames had hired her as Ediths carer. And Edith? She was a darling. The moment she heard Charlottes story, she pulled her into a hug.
“My dear, Im so glad James found you. Life sorts itself out, youll see. And high time that boy settled down!”
Weeks passed. Charlotte grew fond of Edith, though she rarely saw Jamestheir shifts never aligned. Hed smile, hug her, whisper how glad he was shed moved in, how he hoped theyd grow closer. But Edith, ever observant, finally asked the obvious.
“Charlotte, love, why are you two in separate rooms? Young couples these days usually cant wait to share a bed, yet here you are, acting like its the 1950s.”
Blushing, Charlotte confessed.
“I like him. But Im not… ready. Not yet.”
Life was sweet. Shed rush home from work to Ediths warm hugs, their chats over tea reminding her of Gran.
“Im so happy James chose you,” Edith said one evening. “I told him ages agothis flats his once he marries. And you, my dear, are exactly the sort of wife he needs. Kind, gentle, and with a heart of gold.”
Then, one evening, James took Charlotte for a walk.
“Grans very ill,” he said, voice heavy. “Cancer. She doesnt knowI dont want her to worry. But she forgets her meds. I need you to make sure she takes them. If she doesnt… I cant lose her, Charlotte.”
“Of course,” she said.
He pulled her close and kissed herdeeply, urgentlyuntil she pushed him away, flustered.
Later, at home, she couldnt shake the feeling something was off. Edith didnt *act* terminally ill. She still cooked, cleaned, even walked in the park.
That night, unable to sleep, Charlotte crept to Jamess doorleft ajar. What she heard froze her blood.
“she bought it, Pen! Of course she didnaïve little thing. Just wait. Once shes fed Gran those pills, bam, problem solved. By our wedding day, that flats ours. Dont worry, darling, Im not touching her. Shes in one room, Im in another. Couldnt care less.”
Charlottes hands trembled as she recorded every word.
So *this* was his game.
The next morning, after James left for work, she confronted Edithwho, as it turned out, was perfectly healthy.
By the time James returned, Edith was waiting with a stack of cash and a steely glare.
“Take it and go. I know what you planned. And if I ever see you again, Ill take that recording straight to the police.”
James vanishedno notice, no goodbye.
As for Charlotte? Well, she still lives with Edith. And who knows? Maybe one day, that big London flat *will* be hers.
