“My Son, I Beg You—Look After Your Sick Sister. Don’t Abandon Her!” Whispered Mum, Her Words Barely Audible, as She Pleaded for Maricica’s Future

My son, please look after your ailing sister. You cant just leave her! whispered their mother, her voice splintering with pain.
Son, youll have a home of your own. I beg you, though, watch over your sister. Dont abandon her. Her words trembled, shredded by her failing lungs.
Listen to me, my boy she gasped, barely audible.
Every word was a labour. Illness gnawed at her, leaving nothing but a wraith on the bed, skin almost see-through. William barely recognised the mother he once knewso lively, so invincible, always laughing, full of affection. Now, she clung to the last shreds of herself, and so did he.
Williamplease, dont leave Margaret behind. Shes fragile different, perhaps, but shes ours. Promise me. Somehow, she squeezed his hand with astonishing strength. He marvelledwhere did such power come from in her condition?
William grimaced, darting a glance at his older sister Margaret, sitting in the corner of the cramped flat in Leeds. Well into her forties, she still played with dolls, swinging her feet as she hummed tunelessly, lost in her own world. She smiled to herself, entirely oblivious to the shadow closing over her family.
William had it made: he owned a construction company, drove a new Range Rover, and kept a spacious house in the Yorkshire Dales. But there was no room for Margaret there. His children were frightened of her, and his wife, Julia, called her mad. Margaret, though, was simple, playful, and entirely harmless.
But you know I have my own family, and Margaret shes he muttered, trying to pull his hand free from his mothers desperate grip.
Son, your fathers home is yours Ive made sure Margaret has the three-bedroom flat. Its all sorted legally sound.
With what money? William and Julia locked eyes, shock etched on their faces, a flicker of greed glinting between them.
I looked after Miss Davies, the old teacher brought her food and her pills for years. She was kind. I never dreamed shed leave the place to us. Its all in Margarets name, so shell have somewhere safe. And youkeep an eye on her, please Itll be your childrens one day, who knows how long shell last…
That night, their mother died.
Margaret, seemingly untouched by grief, didnt grasp she was now alone in the world. William moved her in at once, beginning the process of fixing up the flat.
Why does Margaret need all that space? She could stay with us, and well rent it out, Julia suggested, eyeing the possibilities.
At first, Julia kept silentMargaret bothered no one, obliviously playing and giggling all day. But her quirks unsettled Julia. Shes quiet nowwhat about tomorrow?
Just bear with it, a little longer, William pleaded. But after six months, with help from a solicitor-mate, he managed to transfer both the family home and Margarets flat into his own name. He tricked Margaret into signing the papers, never bothering to explain what she was losing.
Then, things turned cruel.
While William was at work, Julia tormented Margaret: yelled at her, locked her in her room, sometimes gave her cat food for dinner. William would find her red-eyed and trembling. One afternoon, Julia lost her patience and struck her. Terrified, Margaret wet herself.
Not only are you thick, you can’t even control yourself? Get out of my house!
Julia hurled Margarets belongings into a bin bag, shoved her out the front door.
Wheres Margaret? William asked that evening, collapsing onto the bed.
Shes gone! Julia snapped. She wet herself, then locked herself away. When I opened the door, she bolted with her bag. Im not chasing after some loon.
William said nothing. He only replied, Well, if shes gone and flicked the telly on. By the way, Ive found new tenants.
That night stretched on forever. Williams mind wandered back to Margaretshe was like a child, helpless. At last, he drifted off as dawn broke, dreaming of his mother:
I begged you, my boy, she scolded from inside her casket, finger raised in warning.
For weeks, the dream haunted him. He couldnt bear it any longer. After two months, he called his godmother, Anne.
Whats wrong, William? Conscience biting you? she replied icily. Good thing I popped round to see your mother. I found Margaret, terrified, so I took her in. Ill look after her. I dont want her flat. You live with your own shame!
Alright, Anne he mumbled, hanging up. A wave of relief washed over himMargaret was safe.
Two months later, Margaret died, carried off by the same illness as their mother. William didnt turn up for the funeralhe had urgent business.
Ten years passed. Now, William lay sick himself, wracked with pain and guilt. Julia had run off with someone else. The children visited infrequently, muttering under their breath, You smell of hospitals
One afternoon, Julia burst inpapers in hand.
Sign these, lets sort the company.
He signed. Too late, he realised: it was the deed gifting away his house. And the company. Everything, gone. Memories of his mother and Margaret crashed into him. Silent tears slid down his cheeks.
Forgive me he whispered into the emptiness swallowing him whole.