November 2025 – Page 36

Two wives A barren woman she isnt even a proper woman any more, just a halfwoman, my motherinlaw muttered

Three years ago my motherinlaw threw us out of the house with our baby, and now shes upset that I refuse

28October I sat in the counsellors office and she looked straight at me. Emma, you and your husband share

Darling, youre getting old! Im ashamed to bring you to my business partners, so Ive got myself a lover

Dear Diary, Tonight I was in the kitchen, trying to whip up a dinner for Paul. Hed mentioned wanting

Dont come back, Father, she whispered, as if the words could stitch the night together. When you leave

Monday, 21October The flat I took was advertised in a cramped notice: Terraced house, centre, cheap, urgent.

My son and his wife have chosen to put up for sale the country house I gave them, shattering my heart.

Over the years Ive delivered roughly twelve thousand babies in our little remote northern maternity unit.

Tomorrow I was to travel to meet my future motherinlaw. My married friends, trying to soothe my nerves