Know Your Place, Woman!

Emily, Ive told you a hundred timesnow isnt the time for children, she said, snapping her laptop shut and turning to her husband. Ive just been offered the head of a new project. Its the opportunity Ive been waiting for three years.

Meanwhile Ive been waiting for an heir for three years! David shouted, his voice rising. Were both thirty. The biological clock is ticking and youre still dreaming about a career.

Emily exhaled slowly. These arguments had become a regular feature of the past six months, each one more forceful than the last.

My work matters, she replied. Im not abandoning my position for motherhood.

Those are two different things, David insisted. A man should provide for the family, and a woman should bear children. Thats the natural order.

Emily pressed her lips together. Davids outdated views resurfaced more often, as if the marriage had stripped away the thin veil under which hed once hidden them during their courting days.

The natural order is that people decide for themselves when to become parents, she said, standing up to clear the table. Im not ready now. Period.

And when will you be ready? At forty? At fifty? Davids voice grew louder. Or maybe never?

Molly, the ginger mutt curled on the balcony ledge, lifted her head and gave Emily a worried stare, always sensing tension in the house.

Give it a few more years, love, Emily said, sitting beside the dog and rubbing her head. Right, girl?

David followed the motion, his brow furrowing.

Thats exactly the problem, he muttered. You waste all your maternal instincts on that pooch.

Dont you dare talk about Molly like that, Emily snapped, turning sharply. Shes part of the family.

The family? A dog is an animal, not a child! David slammed his hand onto the table. I wont tolerate this any longer!

The following days turned into a siege. David devoted every waking hour to persuading his wife. At dawn, before Emily could even open her eyes, he launched another lecture on parental duty. By nightfall, he confronted her with fresh arguments about the ticking clock.

Look at Sophie, he said, scrolling through social media. Shes your age and already has two kids. And what about Claire in your department? She gave birth last year.

Sophie has been on maternity leave for three years, complaining that her brains atrophied, Emily retorted. Claire went back to work after four months because money was tight.

Youre just scared of responsibility, David accused.

And youre scared Ill outshine you, she shot back.

On Friday, their mother-in-law, Margaret, entered the fray.

Emily, dear, Margaret began, taking her seat at the kitchen table, David has told me everything. I understand work is important, but a womans primary purpose is to continue the line.

Emily felt a pang. Margaret belonged to the generation that married at twenty and saw motherhood as the only viable life script.

Well sort this out ourselves, Margaret, Emily replied politely.

How can you sort it out? Three years have passed! In my day, we had our first child within a year of marriage and were planning the second by the third year, the mother-in-law snorted.

Times have changed, Emily tried to keep her voice steady.

Changed, indeedthough not for the better, Margaret sneered. Women once knew their place.

David nodded, silently supporting his mother.

Ill decide where my place is, Emily said coldly.

Margaret pursed her lips, exchanging a loaded glance with her son.

Youre selfish, Emily. David is thirtyone and wants a child.

Then he should find someone ready to give him an heir right now, Emily replied sharply.

A heavy silence fell. Davids face paled, Margarets mouth opened in outrage.

Maybe I will! David shouted.

After Margaret left, Emily took a long walk with Molly. The dog bounded happily beside her, pausing now and then to sniff an interesting scent or chase another dog. Those evening strolls through the park became a tiny island of peace amid the domestic storm.

You know, love, Emily whispered to the mutt as it chased pigeons, sometimes it feels like youre the only one in this house who truly understands me.

Mollys russet face turned toward her, intelligent brown eyes shining with loyalty. Emily crouched and hugged the dog.

I found you in a shelter, skinny and scared. Look at you nowa real beauty, she said.

Molly licked her cheek gratefully, and Emily laughed for the first time in days.

Back home, a gloomy David waited on the sofa, arms crossed, his demeanor anything but inviting.

Ive made a decision, he announced.

What is it? Emily asked, unfastening Mollys leash as the dog trotted to its water bowl.

Either a child or the dog. Choose.

Emily froze, leash in hand.

What?

You understood me perfectly. If you want to keep this marriage, get rid of the mutt. If you wont have my children, I wont watch you play mother to an animal.

David, have you lost your mind? Emily turned slowly to him. Mollys been with me for four years!

I wont stand another day where a dog matters more to you than I do, he snapped. Shes not more important! Its just

Just what? he cut in. Just that you spend time, money, and emotion on her that should belong to me and our future children!

Emily sank onto a chair, the absurdity of the situation glaring at her.

Youre jealous of the dog?

I expect my wife to behave like a wife, not like an old spinster with cats!

Its a dog, not cats, she replied.

Dont be clever, David barked. Decisions made. By Sunday this mutt must disappear, or you start preparing for pregnancy!

Molly, hearing the raised voices, padded over and rested her head on Emilys lap. The dogs warm breath soothed more than any medicine.

What if I refuse? Emily asked quietly.

Then our marriage ends.

Emily spent Saturday wrestling with the decision. David pretended not to speak to her, grimaced whenever the dog appeared, and sighed dramatically as if Mollys presence caused him physical pain.

Times running out, he reminded her that evening. I need an answer tomorrow.

Im ready, Emily replied calmly.

She had thought it through. She realized the choice between a dog and a husband was really a choice between genuine devotion and manipulation, between true love and emotional blackmail.

Wonderful! David exclaimed. Tomorrow well take her to the shelter.

Im moving out with my things and Molly tomorrow, Emily said.

Davids face stretched.

Youre seriously choosing a dog over me?

Im choosing the person who loves me without conditions.

Sunday erupted in chaos. David shouted, threatened, pleaded, then shouted again. He promised magnanimous forgiveness if Emily changed her mind, vowed to find a compromise, but it was too late.

Youll regret this! he roared as Emily carried the last suitcase out. Who else will put up with your whims?

Ill find someone else, she smiled. And hell love dogs.

Molly sat in the car, waiting patiently as her owner finished packing, as if she understood a new chapter was beginning.

Emilys parents welcomed her with open arms. Susan immediately began cooking a meal for three, while her father set up a cozy corner for Molly in the living room.

We always thought this marriage was a mistake, her mother confessed, hugging her. We just never had the courage to say it.

The divorce went surprisingly quickly. David, seeing no middle ground, didnt drag the process out. Emily moved into a modest flat with a view of the park, focused on her career, and for the first time in years felt genuinely happy.

Five years slipped by. Emily headed a major department, earned a solid salary in pounds, and lived in a spacious apartment overlooking the green. Molly had grown, her fur turning silver, but still greeted Emily with unbridled joy after each workday.

Max, a colleague from a neighbouring team, entered Emilys life naturallyfirst as a friend, then as something more. He accepted Molly without complaint, never whining about dog hair on the sofa, and often took her for walks when Emily worked late.

Its absurd that anyone could force a choice between family and a pet, Max said once, after Emily recounted the past marriage. Its ridiculous.

David thought otherwise, Emily replied.

Stupid, really, Max shrugged, then apologized. Sorry, didnt mean to speak ill of your ex.

No apology needed. Youre right.

One warm afternoon Emily and Molly strolled through their favorite park. The dog no longer chased pigeons, preferring to walk beside her, but still examined every new scent with curiosity.

Lola, stay! a familiar voice called.

Emily turned and froze. David walked along the path, holding the hand of a fouryearold boy. Beside them, on a leash, trotted a ginger mutt uncannily resembling Molly.

Emily? David stopped, surprise flickering across his face. What a coincidence.

Hello, David, Emily replied evenly.

The boy released his fathers hand and ran to the dog. Lola, whos this? Your sister?

Emily smiled, looking at her former husband. What a strange coincidence with the name.

David flushed slightly. Vicky wanted a dog. I guess the name just popped into my head.

Got it, Emily said, not pressing further. Nice boyhe looks a lot like you.

Thanks. Are you married? he asked.

Yes. Max is wonderful, and he loves dogs.

David nodded, unsure what to say.

Dad, why is Auntie sad? the boy asked.

Im not sad, Emily answered, smiling. Just thinking about how well things turned out.

When they walked away, Emily lingered on the path, watching Davids figure recede. He had gotten what he wanteda child, and even a dog. The problem hadnt been the dog at all; it was people who tried to reshape each other to fit their own expectations. With Max, Emily never had to choose between career and family, nor between love for an animal and love for a man.

Lets go home, girl, she said to Molly. Max promised a tasty dinner.

Molly wagged her tail, and Emily realized that life often places us with the wrong partners just to teach us the value of the right ones. The true lesson: never let anyone dictate your worth or force you into a false dichotomy; the only choices that matter are those that honor your own heart.