I often sit down to write in my diary about the story of my mother Emily and her husband William, for it carries a lesson I will never forget. At thirty-five, Emily thought she would never experience the happiness of a woman, but fate had other plans. They came together when both were almost forty. William had been a widower for three years by then. Emily had never been married, but she had a son. As folks say, she had him for herself. In her youth, she had a relationship with a handsome dark-haired man named David, who promised to marry her and charmed the young Emily. She fell for the promises, which turned out empty. It later emerged that the suitor from the city was already married.
David’s lawful wife even came to Emily begging the girl not to break up another family. The young inexperienced Emily gave in. But she decided to keep the child.
So it happened. Emily gave birth to Henry. And the son became her only comfort and joy. Emily raised him well and he studied hard. After school he entered the university for economics. William visited Emily a few times. He offered to live together. But the woman hesitated, though she liked William. Emily somehow felt ashamed of her son and the prospect of finally being happy. One evening Henry decided to speak with his mother. He said he was not against it: “Mum, I will not be living at home anyway. William is a reliable man. Just so he does not hurt you. The main thing is that you are happy.” William’s son was also not against it.
And so they began to live. They married and had a small celebration. Emily worked in the village library, and William as a farmer. They did everything together. They ran the home, kept livestock, worked the garden. They loved and respected each other, though it was a pity God did not give them children together.
Both sons married and they lived to see grandchildren. Every time on holidays they prepared gifts for the children and grandchildren. Home eggs, milk, cream, pork and chicken. On holidays many guests gathered in their house. Then William and Emily sat at the table, happy. And glad that they had someone to celebrate with.
Only in the evenings, when the elderly couple lay down to sleep, each quietly thought to leave this world first… And never to feel lonely.
Years took their toll. And one day trouble crept up. In the morning Emily felt unwell when she just began to cook soup in the kitchen. The elderly woman fell. William with the help of neighbors called the ambulance. The doctors said that Emily had a stroke. All functions were there except one. Emily could no longer walk. Henry with his wife came to visit mother. He gave some pounds for the medicines and left.
William hired a car, and when his wife was discharged from the hospital, carried her into the house with a neighbor.
“Everything will be fine,” he comforted his wife, “just live. You can sit and talk with me. Just live. And I will manage everything. Just do not leave me, my dear!”
William cared well for his wife. After a month she moved to a chair. She helped him in the kitchen. They continued to do everything together. They peeled potatoes and carrots, sorted beans. Even baked bread. In the evenings Emily and William discussed how they would live further. Winter was ahead. And William had no strength to chop wood.
Maybe the children would take us for the winter to them, and in spring and summer we could manage ourselves…
On the weekend Henry came with his wife. The daughter-in-law Sarah, having looked over the whole room, made a conclusion:
We will have to separate you lovebirds. We will take mother next week. Let me prepare the room. And we will come.
And what about me? – William whispered awkwardly. We have never been apart. Children, how so.
Well that was before, when you had the strength for the household and could take care of yourselves, but now everything is different. Let your son take you too. No one will take you both.
Henry and his wife went home. William and Emily sighed bitterly and thought what to do next. Each of them falling asleep dreamed of not waking up so as not to see all this.
On the next weekend both sons arrived. They started packing things. William sat by Emily’s bed. He kept looking at her, recalling their young years. And cried. He leaned to his sick wife. And whispered:
“Forgive me Emily, that everything turned out this way for us… Somewhere we missed in raising the children. They separate us like unwanted kittens. Forgive me. I love you.”
Emily wanted to stroke her husband’s cheek with her hand, but she no longer had the strength. William left, wiping tears with his sleeve. And sitting in the car he did not wipe them anymore.
Then the son with his wife and neighbor started collecting Emily, wrapped her in a blanket and began to carry her out of the house in it… feet first. The sick woman thought it was very symbolic. Emily did not resist, she was gone when William left. And the sick woman only wanted not to live until the evening.
A week passed. On a fine autumn day their dream came true. Emily and William met in the other world.
From this story I have learned a personal lesson: never let family be divided, no matter the difficulties, because the bond of love should last until the very end.I often sit down to write in my diary about the story of my mother Emily and her husband William, for it carries a lesson I will never forget. At thirty-five, Emily thought she would never experience the happiness of a woman, but fate had other plans. They came together when both were almost forty. William had been a widower for three years by then. Emily had never been married, but she had a son. As folks say, she had him for herself. In her youth, she had a relationship with a handsome dark-haired man named David, who promised to marry her and charmed the young Emily. She fell for the promises, which turned out empty. It later emerged that the suitor from the city was already married.
David’s lawful wife even came to Emily begging the girl not to break up another family. The young inexperienced Emily gave in. But she decided to keep the child.
So it happened. Emily gave birth to Henry. And the son became her only comfort and joy. Emily raised him well and he studied hard. After school he entered the university for economics. William visited Emily a few times. He offered to live together. But the woman hesitated, though she liked William. Emily somehow felt ashamed of her son and the prospect of finally being happy. One evening Henry decided to speak with his mother. He said he was not against it: “Mum, I will not be living at home anyway. William is a reliable man. Just so he does not hurt you. The main thing is that you are happy.” William’s son was also not against it.
And so they began to live. They married and had a small celebration. Emily worked in the village library, and William as a farmer. They did everything together. They ran the home, kept livestock, worked the garden. They loved and respected each other, though it was a pity God did not give them children together.
Both sons married and they lived to see grandchildren. Every time on holidays they prepared gifts for the children and grandchildren. Home eggs, milk, cream, pork and chicken. On holidays many guests gathered in their house. Then William and Emily sat at the table, happy. And glad that they had someone to celebrate with.
Only in the evenings, when the elderly couple lay down to sleep, each quietly thought to leave this world first… And never to feel lonely.
Years took their toll. And one day trouble crept up. In the morning Emily felt unwell when she just began to cook soup in the kitchen. The elderly woman fell. William with the help of neighbors called the ambulance. The doctors said that Emily had a stroke. All functions were there except one. Emily could no longer walk. Henry with his wife came to visit mother. He gave some pounds for the medicines and left.
William hired a car, and when his wife was discharged from the hospital, carried her into the house with a neighbor.
“Everything will be fine,” he comforted his wife, “just live. You can sit and talk with me. Just live. And I will manage everything. Just do not leave me, my dear!”
William cared well for his wife. After a month she moved to a chair. She helped him in the kitchen. They continued to do everything together. They peeled potatoes and carrots, sorted beans. Even baked bread. In the evenings Emily and William discussed how they would live further. Winter was ahead. And William had no strength to chop wood.
Maybe the children would take us for the winter to them, and in spring and summer we could manage ourselves…
On the weekend Henry came with his wife. The daughter-in-law Sarah, having looked over the whole room, made a conclusion:
We will have to separate you lovebirds. We will take mother next week. Let me prepare the room. And we will come.
And what about me? – William whispered awkwardly. We have never been apart. Children, how so.
Well that was before, when you had the strength for the household and could take care of yourselves, but now everything is different. Let your son take you too. No one will take you both.
Henry and his wife went home. William and Emily sighed bitterly and thought what to do next. Each of them falling asleep dreamed of not waking up so as not to see all this.
On the next weekend both sons arrived. They started packing things. William sat by Emily’s bed. He kept looking at her, recalling their young years. And cried. He leaned to his sick wife. And whispered:
“Forgive me Emily, that everything turned out this way for us… Somewhere we missed in raising the children. They separate us like unwanted kittens. Forgive me. I love you.”
Emily wanted to stroke her husband’s cheek with her hand, but she no longer had the strength. William left, wiping tears with his sleeve. And sitting in the car he did not wipe them anymore.
Then the son with his wife and neighbor started collecting Emily, wrapped her in a blanket and began to carry her out of the house in it… feet first. The sick woman thought it was very symbolic. Emily did not resist, she was gone when William left. And the sick woman only wanted not to live until the evening.
A week passed. On a fine autumn day their dream came true. Emily and William met in the other world.
From this story I have learned a personal lesson: never let family be divided, no matter the difficulties, because the bond of love should last until the very end.
