**Diary Entry October 12th**
*”Well see about that.”*
*”No! As long as were living in this madhouse with your mum and Lily, there wont be any wedding!”*
*”Katie, love, why jump to conclusions? We could rent a dresstheres still time. Or postpone it if youd rather Lets just talk this through,”* sighed David.
*”You dont get it,”* Katie snapped, crossing her arms. *”Its not about the dress. Its about feeling like Im in a warzone here. Your sisters old enough to know better, but shes still a nightmare. And honestly, Margarets the real problem.”*
David hated hearing it, even if part of him knew she wasnt entirely wrong. Somehow, over the years, his mother had turned Lily against Katie before theyd even properly met.
We met at uni. Things moved slowlyneither of us had our own place back then. David lived with his family, insisting it was *”easier for everyone.”*
*”Ive got Grans old flat, but Mums renting it out for now. When we need it, well fix it up,”* hed say.
A year later, we did need it. David thought it was time to take the next stepboth of us had graduated, found jobs. No reason to wait.
*”Well stay with Mum a few months, then marry and move out,”* he promised. *”Six months, tops.”*
At first, I was thrilled. It sounded mature, responsible. Then it hit me: wed never lived together, and now Id be thrown straight into the trenches with his mother. Would it ruin us?
Almost.
Margaret wasnt the typical monster-in-law. She cooked for everyone (though I tried stepping in), never picked fights, even offered to help with the wedding. The problem was her *”parenting.”*
Lily, her youngest, was spoiled rotten. Margaret swung between harsh and indulgentnever quite landing right. One evening, I overheard them arguing over Lilys schoolbook, littered with poor marks.
*”Bloody hellcouldnt even memorise a poem?”* Margaret sighed. *”Hand over your phone and tablet. No screens until your grades improve.”*
Lily rolled her eyes. *”Whatever. Ill just borrow Davids.”*
*”Think hell always bail you out?”* Margaret smirked. *”Hell have his own family soon. Youll be an afterthought.”*
*”Well see about that!”* Lily slammed her gadgets down and stormed off.
Awkward silence. I hesitatedMargaret had gone too far, but who was I to correct her?
*”Margaret, isnt that a bit harsh?”* I ventured.
*”Lifes harsh, love. Best she learns now.”*
That *”lesson”* backfired on me.
Lily avoided meskipped meals, sabotaged little things. Hid the remote in a heatwave, ruined my makeup. When David fitted a lock on our bedroom door, she threw a tantrum.
*”How am I supposed to do my coursework?!”* she wailed.
*”Youll use the computer under supervision,”* David said calmly.
*”You never locked things before!”*
*”Before, I lived alone. And you didnt snoop.”*
*”I never did! Katies lying! I hate her!”*
She sobbed all night. I didnt want to escalate things, but
*”Shes just a kid,”* David shrugged.
*”Shes twelve, David. Cant we just rent somewhere?”*
*”Hang on a bit longer. Mum says four months.”*
Four months. To him, nothing. To me, eternity.
I tried bribing Lily with chocolates, asking about school. Shed mutter *”fine,”* snatch the sweets, and leave. Nothing changed. Only worsened.
One morning, in a rush, I hung my bag on the door. Later, I noticed it had been rifled throughmy keys gone. An hour waiting outside for Margaret to let me in. She confronted Lily, got them back, but the damage was done.
Then, the final straw.
The night before the wedding, chaosfinal calls, decorations, last-minute checks. I opened the wardrobe to admire my dress only to find it shredded.
I couldnt speak. Just dragged David to see it.
Margaret screamed at Lily. *”You little brat! I ought to tan your hide! Youll pay for every penny!”*
Lily got her punishment. But the dressand my patiencewere beyond repair.
*”Katie, just sleep on itwell sort it tomorrow,”* David pleaded.
*”No. Either we live alone, or not at all.”* I packed my charger, hunted for my passport. *”Im done waiting for your mother to *grace* us with *your* flat. Done with your sister stealing my things. Relationships take work, but not like this. Im not even your wife, and Im exhausted.”*
He begged me to stay*”The renovations nearly done!”*but every word rang hollow.
I spent that night at Emilys, crying, furious. Yesterday, I was a bride. Today, I had nowhere to go.
Three days, a hundred missed calls. Finally, I answered.
*”Katie, this is bloody awful. Were gutted. But dont throw us awaywell buy another dress today. Just come home.”*
I wavered. David *was* goodkind, thoughtful. Just soft. I loved him. But
*”If we marry, its on my terms.”*
*”Which are?”*
*”No help, no guests. Weve celebrated enough with your family. A small dinner later, thats it. And we rent. I wont live like this.”*
Silence. Harsh? Maybe. But Id had enough.
*”Alright,”* he said.
We married quietly. Just us, the registry office, three days in the countryside. No fuss.
His family sulked. I didnt care. This day wasnt for them.
At the dinner, Lily sat silentlikely scolded into submission. Not that I cared. I hadnt wanted a war. But if this was the price of peace? Fine. Our family, our rules. No exceptions.
