Oh, my sweet daughter told me I had to be out of my flat by tomorrow.
The kettle whistled softly on the hob while Elaine sifted through little packets of teachamomile, peppermint, Earl Grey… Victoria had brought them back from her last business trip to London. Elaine smiled, remembering how her daughter had proudly handed her the keys to this flat five years ago.
*”Now, Mum, you’ll have a proper home,”* Victoria had said. *”No more renting rooms.”*
The old kitchen had become her favourite place. Everything about it felt cosythe worn oilcloth on the table, the pots of geraniums on the windowsill, even the crack in the tile by the cooker felt like part of the family. She was just about to pour herself a cup when the doorbell rang.
Victoria stood on the doorstepsharp in a business suit, hair perfectly styled, her expression ice-cold.
*”Mum, we need to talk.”*
Elaine stepped aside, letting her in. Something in her voice made her chest tighten.
*”Come in, love. Ive just made your favouritethat Earl Grey you brought.”*
*”No, thanks,”* Victoria stayed standing in the middle of the kitchen. *”I wont be long. Mum, you need to move out. By tomorrow.”*
Elaine froze, kettle in hand. Surely shed misheard.
*”Sorry, what?”*
*”The flat needs to be vacated. Tomorrow. I cant put this off any longer.”*
Hot tea splashed onto her hand, but she barely felt it.
*”Vicky, I dont understand This is my home. You said”*
*”Its just a flat, Mum,”* Victoria checked her phone. *”Youve stayed here, but I cant keep supporting you.”*
*”Supporting me?”* Elaine let out a shaky laugh. *”Love, I pay the utilities, I clean”*
*”Mum, lets not do this,”* Victoria frowned. *”The decisions made. Just leave the keys on the table.”*
She turned to leave, but Elaine grabbed her arm.
*”Wait! At least tell mewhy? Whats happened?”*
*”Nothings happened. Its just business, Mum. The flat could rent for more.”*
The door clicked shut. The silence rang in Elaines ears. She sank onto a stool, staring at the spilled tea, the golden evening light dancing in the puddle.
Like sleepwalking, she drifted into the bedroom. Photos lined the wallsVictoria at graduation, radiant in her white dress. Another of them at the beach, Victoria building a sandcastle while Elaine laughed, trying to shield it from the waves. Back then, shed sold her cottage to pay for Victorias tuition. Had it been a sacrifice? No. Just love.
*”Darling,”* she whispered, tracing the photo. *”How could you?”*
Night crept in. Elaine mechanically packed her things into an old suitcase, pausing now and then to take in every familiar detailthe chipped paint in the corner shed meant to touch up, the warm glow of her favourite lamp, the shadow of geraniums on the wall. Every little thing suddenly priceless.
Somewhere deep down, she hoped morning would bring a phone callVictoria saying it was all a mistake. A stupid joke. Anything. But the phone stayed silent, and the clock ticked mercilessly through her last hours in the place shed called home.
The first night was stifling. Elaine sat on a park bench, clutching her battered suitcase, staring at the stars. Somewhere, people slept in warm beds, and she God, how had it come to this?
Shed left the keys on the kitchen table, polished with a napkin. For some reason, it felt important they should shine. Maybe Victoria would notice and remember how her mum always cared about the little things.
*”Evening,”* a rough voice said. Elaine startled. A scruffy bearded man in a worn jacket sat at the other end of the bench. *”Dont mind me. Just resting. You staying out too?”*
She tightened her grip on the suitcase.
*”No, Ijust out for a walk.”*
He chuckled. *”Three in the morning? With a suitcase?”*
*”Yes, well I like night strolls.”*
*”Right,”* he pulled an apple from his pocket and held it out. *”Want it? Just washed it in the fountain.”*
She shook her head, but her stomach betrayed her with a growl. She hadnt eaten since yesterday.
*”Names Simon,”* he took a bite. *”Three months on the streets now. Wife kicked me out. You?”*
*”Daughter,”* Elaine murmured, surprising herself with the honesty.
*”Huh,”* Simon shook his head. *”Kids these days Different breed. My sons in Americabeen waiting two years for a call.”*
By dawn, the air turned chilly. Elaine dozed against the bench. Simon had left hours ago, slipping her a second apple and the address of a shelter. *”Its warm there,”* hed said. *”They feed you sometimes.”*
As light broke, she stood, stretching stiff legs. Where to go? The shelter didnt feel right yet. Maybe Hannah? The neighbour had always been friendly, popping round for tea
Knocking on the familiar door took effort. Elaine raised her hand, hesitated, then finally knocked.
*”Elaine?!”* Hannah appeared in a floral dressing gown. *”Good Lord, whats happened? You look dreadful!”*
*”Hannah”* Her voice cracked. *”Can I stay a few days?”*
Hannahs tiny kitchen smelled of sugar. Shed been bakingmorning pastries were her little luxury.
*”Bloody hell”* Hannah muttered, listening to Elaines halting story. *”I always saidyou spoiled her. Remember how she spoke to you at your birthday? And you just brushed it off!”*
*”Dont, Hannah”*
*”No, Elaine!”* She slammed a cup down. *”How long will you lie to yourself? Shes always been like this! Remember when you gave her your savings for that wedding? Not even a thank you!”*
Elaine stared out the window where the city slowly woke. Somewhere, people rushed to workpeople with homes, families, certainty.
*”Youll bounce back, love,”* Hannah squeezed her shoulder. *”You always do.”*
Three days flew by. Elaine tried to be usefulcooking, cleaning, even fixing Hannahs leaky tap. But with each day, she felt more like a burden.
*”Walter!”* She suddenly remembered, flipping through an old address book. An old family friend, had worked with her late husband. Years ago, hed offered help
Dialling his number terrified her. What if he didnt remember? Or worseremembered and refused?
*”Hello, Walt? Its Elaine Yes, Elaine Harris.”*
An hour later, she sat in his cluttered office at the city shelter where Walter managed things.
*”So your daughter kicked you out?”* He tapped a pencil. *”Right Well, our cook just quit. Temporary, mind you, but still Can you cook?”*
*”Ive done it all my”* She faltered. *”But where would I live?”*
*”Here,”* Walter smiled. *”Theres a staff roomsmall, mind But yours. Youre stronger than you think, Elaine. Youll manage.”*
That evening, she stepped into the shelter not as a guest, but as staff. The smell of stew mixed with bleach. Voices buzzed in the dining hallpeople of all sorts gathered here. A shabby but refined old man chatted animatedly with a young mother. Simon (fancy seeing him here!) helped set tables.
*”Elaine!”* A middle-aged woman beckoned. *”Im TamaraIll show you the ropes. Dont worry, weve all been through something.”*
The tiny staff room was clean and unexpectedly cosy. Elaine sat on the bed, pulled out her phone. Her finger hovered over Victorias number No. Not now.
*”Well then,”* she said to her reflection in the window. *”Life goes on?”*
Three months passed in a blink. Cooking for a crowd turned out to be fun, and staying busy left less room for dark thoughts.
*”Elaine!”* Tamara peered into the kitchen. *”New girl just came inbarely more than a kid. Fancy making her some tea?”*
In the dining hall, a thin girl of about twenty fiddled with her frayed sweater sleeve.
*”Tea?”* Elaine set down a cup. *”Earl Grey. From London.”*
The girl looked up, eyes red. *”Ta. You been here long?”*
*”Three months,”* Elaine sat beside her. *
