“Looks Can Change Everything: A Mother and Daughters Story”
“Mum, maybe dont come over today, yeah?” my daughter said, her tone light, almost casual, as she slipped on her trainers by the door. “I appreciate everything you do, of course, but right now its not needed. Just rest, stay home.”
Id already grabbed my bag and buttoned up my coat, ready to look after my granddaughter like I always did while she went to her yoga class. Normally, it was clockworkId arrive, mind the little one, then head back to my modest flat. But today, something was off. Those words froze me in place. Like Id been struck by lightning.
What had I done wrong? Did I not put the baby to sleep right? Use the wrong onesie? Feed her at odd times? Or had they just looked at me differently?
But the truth was simplerand so much worse.
It was her in-laws. Well-off, influential people whod decided to visit their granddaughter *daily*. With an air of importance, theyd unpack boxes of gifts and settle at the dining tablethe one *they* bought. The whole house was their gift to the young couple, really.
The furnitures theirs, the teas theirs (some posh loose-leaf stuff they brought over), and now theyve made themselves right at home. And it seems my granddaughters *theirs* now, too. As for me? Well. Im just extra.
Me, a railway worker with 30 years of servicea simple woman, no fancy degrees or jewellery, no expensive hairstyles or trendy clothes.
“Mum, look at you,” my daughter said. “Youve put on weight. Your hairs gone grey. You look frumpy. Those coats of yoursso drab. And you smell like the Tube. Do you get it?”
I stayed silent. What could I say?
After she left, I stood in front of the mirror. And yeah, staring back was a tired-eyed woman, wrinkles at the corners of her mouth, a shapeless coat, and cheeks flushed pink with shame. The self-loathing hit me like a sudden downpour on a clear day. I stepped outside just to breathe, and thenthroat tight, eyes burning. Those treacherous, bitter tears spilled over.
So I went back to my little flatmy studio in a quiet part of town. Sat on the sofa and scrolled through my old mobile, still packed with photos. Theres my daughterso small. Here, with a ribbon on her first day of school. Graduation, her degree, her wedding and theres my granddaughter, grinning in her crib.
My whole life in these pictures. Everything I lived for. Everything I gave myself to. And if Im not needed now? Well, then thats how it has to be. My times passed. Ive done my bit. The important thing is not to be a burden. Not to ruin their lives with my messy appearance. If they want me? Theyll call. *Maybe* theyll call.
Not long after, my phone rang.
“Mum” Her voice was strained. “Can you come? The nanny quit, the in-lawswell, they showed their true colours. And Andrews gone off with his mates somewhere, and Im completely alone.”
I paused. Then, calmly, said:
“Sorry, love. But I cant right now. I need to sort myself out. Become presentable, like you said. When I canthen maybe.”
I hung up. And for the first time in ages, I smiled. Not happily. But with pride.
