For ten years, a woman lived alone in the woods until two newborns appeared on her doorstep.
Emily, as she did every morning at first light, stepped into the garden. There was no shortage of choreswatering the veg patch, pulling weeds, checking the henhouse, and inspecting the apple treesall demanding time and effort. And she had no one to help. Not a soul nearby. Shed grown used to the solitude, though sometimes it settled in her chest like a stubborn knot.
By evening, she planned to go huntinga necessity, since the larder was running low, and the nearest shop was miles away. But first, she fancied a bit of rest, maybe a stroll or simply sitting beneath the ancient oak by the cottage. Just then, her faithful hound trotted upa great, noble beast named Rex. More than a pet, he was her guardian and companion in every task.
Fancy a walk, old boy? Come on then, weve time before dusk, she said warmly, ruffling his ears. Rex wagged his tail as if to say, *A breaks well-earned before the work begins.* He flopped down beside her, resting his chin on his paws. *Ill wait. Always here.*
Emily fetched the buckets and headed for the well. This summer had been particularly scorchingeven for these parts, where rain usually arrived by July. Flowers drooped, leaves crisped early, and the earth split like old china. She watered the garden often, fighting to save what she could. Shed been alone for years now, utterly alone. First, thered been her mum, but shed passed, leaving Emily in the cottage her grandfather had built.
Her grandfather had been a hard, quiet man, near enough a recluse. Hed lived far from the village, deep in the woods, in a house hed raised with his own hands. One thing was certainhed held a grudge against the world. Bitter, because no one had helped his wife when shed gone into labour. If someone had stepped in, if the doctor had come in time, if thered been a car or even a horse, Margaret mightve lived. Maybe thered have been grandchildren laughing in the yard while he told them stories. But none of that happened.
Emily remembered begging her grandfather to explain. For years, hed said nothing. Only when shed grown up, when shed started seeing James and mentioned marriage, did he finally speak. His face darkened, his eyes like storm clouds.
Dont marry him, he said, quiet but firm.
Why not? Hes decent, and his family doesnt drinkrare enough round here.
No good comes from that lot.
Grandad, its not the Middle Ages! Times have changed. Youre the one hiding away from everyone. Why?
He sighed as if the weight of the world pressed on him. Sit down. Ill tell you how your grandmother died.
Emily sat, breath held. She knew whatever came next would change everything.
He began with a long-ago winter, when the village had no proper roads, just tractors and horses. Blizzards raged daily, burying lanes in snow, cutting off the town. Grandma Margaret hadnt wanted to leave early, afraid to abandon her husband in the freezing cottage. When her time came, the storm was so fierce no horse could brave it. Grandad ran to the neighbours, but no one would risk their mare.
The midwife said the hospital was waiting on the main road, but it was unreachable. Desperate, Grandad turned to Petera man whod once loved Margaret but lost her. He fell to his knees, begged, wept. Peter only sneered, Cant even get your wife to hospital?
In a fury, Grandad grabbed him, but others pulled them apart. With his late brothers help, he loaded Margaret onto a sledge and hauled her himself. Four agonising hours through snow and wind. At the hospital, it was too late. Only the baby survivedEmilys mother.
When he finished, Emily sat pale, fists clenched.
Grandad, its awful, truly. But whats that got to do with James?
That Peterhes Jamess grandfather.
The words struck like lightning. Her stomach turned. James did he know? His grandfather had been kind to her, even fond. Did he realise whose granddaughter stood before him?
Emilys parents had opposed the match too, though theyd kept quiet. Now she wondereddid James know their families history? She had to find out.
First, she asked her grandfather, Is that why you live out here?
Aye. After that, I couldnt bear folk. Built this place to be shut of them. Your mother moved to her aunts when she grew up. No hard feelingslifes for living.
Emily remembered visiting as a child. At first, it was raretoo far, too risky. But once she got a bicycle, she came often, cheering the old man.
One day, returning home, she saw smoke. Thick, black. Her heart stopped. She pedalled harder than ever. What had happened? Where were Mum and Dad?
A crowd held her back. Someone murmured, Steady, love. Your mum ran in after the catsomething collapsed. Your dad went after her neither came out.
Do something!
Its too late.
Let me go!
But they held her tight. Emily screamed, fought. Tears blinded her.
Grandad didnt survive the news. After the funeral, he took to his bed and never rose again. Emily stayed by him, reading, cooking, singing his favourite songs. And James came. Once, twice, thrice.
Come for a walk. I miss you.
She stared, heartbroken. You miss me? And what I feeldoes it matter?
Course it does. I just thought a walk might help.
Help? In your family, other peoples pain doesnt count, does it?
Jamess face darkened. Youre talking about ancient history. Whats it to do with us?
Everything! None of you care. Just like no one helped my parents. Get out. Dont come back.
He eyed her. Youre upset. You dont mean it.
I do. Go. I cant stand the sight of you.
Certain?
Absolutely.
Right. Wont trouble you again.
As he left, Emily stood at the gate, watching him walk away. She nearly called, *Wait! Im sorry!* But she didnt. Just bolted the gate and returned to Grandad.
Emily was alone. A week after her parents funeral, before the earth had settled on their graves, Grandad slipped away quietly. As if hed waited until she could stand without him.
After the last service, her auntMums sisterapproached. Come live with us? Plenty of room.
No. Ill stay here.
Like a hermit? Your grandad was rightfolk are worse than beasts.
Dont say that! Youre young. Be kinder. Ill bet you said something to James. That old feuds haunting you.
Emily stayed silent, turning so her aunt wouldnt see her tears. There was truth in the words, but she couldnt admit it. Had James known all along?
That night, she realisedshe didnt belong in the village. Not because the people were cold, but because every glance, every word, was a reminder. And forgetting was impossible.
So she remained alone. Just her, the cottage, the garden, Rex, and the memories. Ten years passed before the village barged back into her lifesuddenly, painfully.
A year ago, fetching supplies, she spotted James. He stood by his house, a heavily pregnant woman beside him. But what froze her was his left leggone, replaced by a neat prosthetic with a rubber tip.
James felt her stare, turned. Their eyes met. A heartbeat. Then Emily fled. Only at her gate did she catch her breath. After that, she avoided the village entirely. If she needed shopping, she went to town. No one knew her there. No whispers, no pity.
But fate wasnt done. At the bus stop, she bumped into her old friend Lucyalways chatty, always nosy. She plopped beside Emily, chattering nonstop. Turns out James had brought his wife homea nurse from the hospital where hed been treated. The woman was miserable, having married a hero only to get a disabled man in a crumbling house. Jamess dad had died while he served; his mum hadnt lasted long after. Now he was back, alone.
His wife hadnt wanted a baby in such squalor, but it was too late. James tried, but the romance had fizzled. Rumor had it hed taken to drink. Can you blame him? Lucy added. With a wife like that?
My stop. Ta-ra, Emily!
Emily hadnt said a word. If she had, the whole village wouldve known by morning. And
