Father Abandons Family for Another Woman When Daughter Was Just Four Years Old

**Diary Entry 12th January**

It all began when my daughter was four. Her father walked out on New Years Day, muttering “sorry” before shutting the front door for good. He left us for another woman. My wife took it oddly calmly, as though it were just another of lifes cruel inevitabilities. In her family, no woman ever had a lasting marriage. But weeks later, in the dead of night, she swallowed every diazepam and paracetamol in the house and slipped away.

That morning, little Lucy tried for ages to wake her, shouting and shaking her. When nothing worked, she raided the fridge for a makeshift breakfast before trying again. Exhausted, she curled up beside her mother and fell asleep.

January days pass quickly. It was nearly dusk when Lucy woke, shivering. She tugged the blanket tighter and pressed closeronly to find her mothers body cold as ice. Hot tears scorched her cheeks.

Then, the front door creaked open. It was Margaret, my wifes younger sister. “Lucy, love, youre home! Wheres your mum? Ive been ringing all daywhy wont she answer?”

Lucy grabbed Margarets coat, yanking her toward the bedroom, her face twisted in silent agony. No sound camejust tears and snot and desperate, wordless cries.

Margaret had no children of her ownher husband left after five childless years. She adored Lucy like a daughter. So when tragedy struck, she took her in without hesitation. Three years of doctors and therapists never brought Lucys voice back.

That winter, snow arrived with St. Stephens Daythick, crunching snow. Lucy and her friends spent hours sledging in Hyde Park, building snowmen, rolling in the powder, making snow angels.

“Time to go home, love. Your clothes are frozen stiff, and your mittens are little ice blocks. Come onwell stop at Tesco for milk and pasta,” Margaret urged.

People hurried in and out of the supermarket, but a ginger cat sat calmly by the entrance, eyes half-closed, unfazed by the cold. Lucy crouched beside it, stroking its back until it arched, purring. She hugged it tight, burying her face in its furthen suddenly, hot tears fell. The cat licked them away, sneezed, and licked again.

“Ugh, stop that! Its a filthy stray,” Margaret scolded, dragging Lucy toward the car. The girl fought, but Margaret bundled her into the backseat.

The cat followed, mewing pitifully at the window.

“Hes mine now, and Im leaving him,” Lucy whispered, tears streaking the glass.

“Did you just? Say it again!” Margarets voice shook.

“We cant leave him! Hell die without me!” Lucy screamedher first words in years.

Margaret leapt out, scooped up the cat, and plopped it onto Lucys lap. The ginger tom, startled, clung to her coat before settling into a contented loaf.

“If you wanted a cat, you only had to ask,” Margaret laughed, wiping her own tears.

**Lesson learned:** Sometimes, the smallest creatures mend the deepest cracks.