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Why Did You Break Into My Laptop? – A Mystery Behind an Unknown Gaze
What the hell are you doing on my laptop? Alex snapped, towering over Emily. Shed never seen him like this before.
Emily had just come home from school and immediately noticed the heavy smell of alcohol in the hallway. A loud snoring echoed from the living roomher father was drunk again. She walked straight past it into the kitchen.
Her mother stood at the sink, peeling potatoes. Hearing footsteps, she turned. Emilys sharp eyes caught the red, swollen cheek instantly.
Mum, lets leave him. How much more can we take? Hell kill you one day, Emily said fiercely.
Where would we go? Whod want us? We cant afford rent. Dont worry, he wont kill me. Hes a coward. Only dares to hit me.
The next morning, Emily woke to strange noises. She crept to the kitchen and saw her father at the stove, head tilted back, gulping water straight from the kettle. She stared, hypnotised, at his bobbing Adams apple. The sound of the liquid going down made her stomach turn. Choke. Please, God, let him choke, she thought bitterly.
But he didnt. He set the kettle down with a satisfied sigh, gave her a red-eyed glance, and stumbled past her to the bathroom.
Emily grimaced, knowing her mother would refill the kettle without washing away his spit and stench. She scrubbed it furiously, vowing never to drink from it without cleaning it first.
During winter break, Emilys class took a three-day trip to Manchester. When she returned, her mother was in hospital.
Did he hit you? Emily asked harshly, eyeing the bandaged head.
No, love. Slipped on ice.
But Emily knew she was lying.
Years of blows to the head had given her mother high blood pressure. Six months later, she had a stroke and died. At the wake, her father wept drunken tears, sometimes mourning his beloved Margaret, other times cursing her.
He told Emily she was just like her mother and threatened to kill her if she ever tried to leave. Emily counted the days until she finished school. She skipped prom, collected her diploma in secret, and packed her things while her father was at work.
He gave her money for food, but she saved some, even stealing from his wallet when he slept. It wasnt much, but enough to start. Shed planned this for yearswork first, study later.
She wasnt afraid hed find her. Everyone in their neighbourhood knew his habits; no one would help him. She moved to London, rented a cheap flat on the outskirts, and got a job at a fast-food place. They helped with her medical certificate, gave her free meals.
She enrolled in an accounting course at a vocational college. When they found out she was training to be an accountant, they put her on the till.
Boys flirted with her. Theyre all sweet at first, then they start drinking or cheating. Dont fall for pretty words, love. Be careful. I was pretty once, too. Your dad didnt drink when we met. We were in love. What happened? What got into him? her mother used to say.
Emily remembered and ignored their advances. Shed seen how her parents lives turned out.
On payday, her mother would stock up: pasta, sugar, cereal, tinsanything to last. Her father spent his wages on drink, but there was always food, even if it was plain. Now Emily did the same.
One evening, she struggled home with a heavy bag, arms aching. A boy walked towards her, eyes glued to his phone. She hoped hed notice her, but he bumped right into her.
Sorry, he said, looking up.
Emily wanted to snap, but his warm smile disarmed her.
Salright, I wasnt looking either, she replied with a small grin.
He offered to help. Hesitating, she handed him the bag. Someone with a smile like that couldnt be bad. They talked. Alex carried it to her door, but she didnt let him inside.
The next day, he turned up at her work. Just passing by, he claimed, but Emily knew better. They started seeing each other.
Alex admitted he was divorced, had a little girl he adored. Hed left the flat to his ex and was crashing at a mates. Said hed married young and stupid.
We just werent right. Had nothing in common. Some days we barely spoke.
He talked about his daughter often, and Emily thought maybe she could trust a man who loved his kid. After a month, Alex suggested moving in together.
Lets get a nicer place, closer to town. Easier together.
Emily agreed, giddy. A proper family at last. They rented a spacious flat, celebrated their new life simply. She didnt dream of weddings, but Alex talked about kidstwo, a boy and a girl. She believed him.
He paid two months rent upfront. By the third, with an apologetic tone, he
Emily took one last look at the flat where shed thought shed find happiness, then shut the door firmly, whispering a promise to her son waiting in the NICU: Well be alright, love. Well be far from all this.
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