A Child for a Friend When Lily was in the final months of her pregnancy, her younger brother left home, her father turned to drink, and from then on, Lily’s life became a living hell. Each morning, Lily aired out the house, cleared the empty bottles from under the table, and waited for her father to wake up. “Dad, you know you can’t drink. You’ve barely recovered from that stroke.” “I’ll drink if I want. Who’s going to stop me? It’s easier to bear the pain this way.” “What pain?” “The pain of knowing I’m not needed. Not even by you. I’m nothing but a burden. I’m a lost soul, Lily. Should never have been born, never should’ve married or fathered children who got nothing from me but weakness and poverty. It’s all for nothing, love. Drinking is simpler.” Lily, already in a foul mood, bristled. “Nothing’s for nothing, Dad. People have it worse, you know.” “How could it be worse, love? You grew up with no mother. Now you want to bring a poor babe into the world with no father, and more poverty awaits.” “Things aren’t as bleak as all that, Dad. Life’s changeable. Everything can turn around in a moment.” She remembered, with a pang, how she was happy once, preparing to marry Ilya. Yes, her world had fallen apart, but life had to go on. That day, her father got drunk again. Lily shouted from the heart: “Did you drink away the money I set aside? How did you find it? You tore the house apart and rummaged through my things, didn’t you?!” “Everything in this house belongs to me,” her father decreed, “including the pension you’re hiding! My pension.” “And you drank it all? Didn’t give a thought to how we’d live?” “Why should I? I’m sick. You’re grown now, your turn to look after me!” Lily searched all the cupboards. “I know there were two packs of pasta and some butter left yesterday. Now it’s all gone! What are we supposed to eat for dinner?” She sat on a chair and buried her face in her hands, devastated. How was Lily to know that Auntie Natasha had taken to plying her father with drink and robbing the house behind her back? Like a silent viper, Natasha had wormed her way in and set herself to destroying their family. That night, Lily cried herself to sleep, worn down and aching with hunger. In the morning, someone knocked at the door. In walked Natasha Anatolievna, dressed in a fashionable coat and high-heeled boots, not bothering to take them off as she waltzed in. “Hello. My friend in the council told me you’re in debt and they’ll be cutting your power for non-payment soon. What’s going on, Lily? Will you make me a cup of tea?” Without waiting for an answer, Natasha went to the kitchen and began rummaging through cupboards and the fridge. “I’ll make the tea myself—after all, you’re pregnant just like my Sveta… Listen, you don’t even have any sugar or tea left. There’s nothing here at all. Let’s go to the shop.” Lily wouldn’t meet her guest’s gaze. “Auntie Natasha, I can’t offer you tea. It would be best if you left.” But Natasha was having none of it. “You’ve got problems, I can see it. Remember I offered to have you move in with me? This time I’m not asking, I insist. Come to mine. There’s no place here for a baby, your dad’s drinking, and you’ve got nothing to eat—let alone vitamins and fruit! Pack your things and come now.” Lily sat on the stool, dizzy with it all, tears streaming down her cheeks. Natasha hugged her. “Listen, love, I know how you feel about me. I’ll never be forgiven—my daughter stole your fiancé—but I can’t stand to see you suffer. Whether you want it or not, I’ll take care of you.” After that, it all happened as if in a dream: Natasha helped Lily pack, called a taxi, and took her home. *** When Lily’s contractions began, Natasha Anatolievna stayed glued to her side. “Listen carefully, Lily. I’ve already told the hospital staff you want to give up the baby. So after the birth, don’t hold her or feed her. Don’t even look.” Lily, writhing in pain, replied, “Oh, Auntie Natasha, I don’t care. Just let this be over.” “Remember what I said—you can’t look after this baby yourself. I’ve found a nice couple willing to adopt her straight away.” A few hours later, a baby girl was born. “Three kilos, three hundred grams. She’s healthy and fine.” The nurse wrapped the squirming infant and whisked her away without showing Lily. But the paediatrician shot a stern look at the new mother. “What’s this? You have a healthy, beautiful baby girl and don’t even want to see her? Elena, bring her back—put her to the mother’s breast.” Lily shook her head desperately. “I don’t want her. I can’t even feed myself—there are people who need her more, I’ll sign the papers. Let her be adopted…” “Don’t be ridiculous—just look at her once!” Lily shut her eyes tight, but soon felt something soft and tender brush her hand. The nurse laid the newborn beside her. The tiny girl grunted, searching and gaping her mouth. At last, Lily looked at her daughter. The small, helpless baby gazed up, squinting curiously and reaching out her tiny hands. “There you go, Mum, feed your little one,” the paediatrician smiled. She perked up, seeing Lily overcome by the power of that first meeting. “She needs you—not adoptive parents, understand?” Lily broke down in tears, cradling her child and nodding. For the next two hours, Lily couldn’t take her eyes off her daughter. That was when her mother’s instinct awoke. “There it is—the meaning of my life: my daughter. Doesn’t matter if Ilya’s gone or Dad’s lost his way…my daughter needs me, so I’m staying with her.” *** Lily woke to Natasha’s voice. Natasha Anatolievna, wrapped in a dressing gown, had entered the ward and stood over Lily’s bed. “Did you forget our agreement?” she whispered. “You promised to give up the baby. I’ve got people ready to take her right now.” “Natasha Anatolievna, I’ve changed my mind. I’m not giving her up.” “But you haven’t got a penny—you’re practically homeless! Where will you take that child?” “Home. I won’t trouble you anymore. I’ll manage.” Lily watched her visitor’s face twist into something devilish. “Have you gone mad? You haven’t got a penny to your name! What are you going to do—beg on the street?” The baby, woken by Natasha’s outburst, started to cry. Lily moved to comfort her. “Don’t touch! I’ll rock her and give her a bottle. Just tell the nurses you haven’t any milk,” Natasha snapped. Lily shook her head. “This isn’t your business—it’s my daughter. I told you, I’ve changed my mind!” “You can’t! You promised!” Natasha sputtered uselessly. “Just go.” Natasha left. Lily’s neighbour, quiet until then, raised her head. “Who was that?” “My aunt.” “Horrible. You did the right thing sending her away. I’m Lera. If you need help, let me know—there’s goodness in this world yet.” “I’m Lily.” “Nice to meet you, Lily. That woman looked like she wanted to snatch your baby and run off. Really strange.” *** Before discharge, Lily had another visitor. She wasn’t allowed onto the ward, so Lily met her in the corridor. Her former friend Sveta was waiting, hands over her very round belly. “Hello.” Lily sat cautiously on a bench. Sveta joined her. “I heard you had the baby.” “Yes. A girl.” Sveta’s eyes darted. “Lily, mum found a couple wanting to adopt your baby, you know.” “So?” “They’re really good people—wealthy, desperate for a baby.” Sveta grabbed Lily’s hand. “They’re offering a million—for your daughter! Just think—you could buy a flat or pay for university!” “A million, huh?” Lily nodded. “If you care so much, why not sell them your child instead?” Sveta’s lips tightened, but she didn’t let go. “Wait, Lily. Give your baby to me! I’ll look after her—she’s Ilya’s daughter, after all.” “You want to raise two children?” “You don’t understand, Lily! My family is falling apart!” Lily leapt up and turned to go, Sveta clinging to her sleeve, her gaze wild. “I need that child, Lily!” “Let go.” …A couple hours later, Ilya himself burst into the ward. Lily shrank back. “You’ve had the baby? Can I see her?” “No, you can’t! You’ll soon have a baby with Sveta—go hang around her.” “We need to talk, Lily. Since you gave birth, I can’t rest. I want to take my daughter—just give her up, and I promise I’ll adopt her myself.” Lily shook her head. “I’m not like you—I’ll never abandon someone who needs me. You wasted your journey, you’re not taking my daughter!” But Ilya remained oddly persistent, refusing to leave. “Give me the baby! You had no right to have her without me! She’s mine and I’m taking what’s mine!” “You? Mummy’s boy? Ask your mother first for permission!” She shoved her ex aside, scooped up her daughter, and went to the nurses’ station. “Could you make sure no one visits me anymore? I don’t want to see anyone—honestly, it’s like Grand Central Station!” Epilogue On the day she was discharged, Lily left the hospital clutching her baby daughter. She wasn’t alone—her roommate Lera was also going home, greeted by her husband and mother. Lily paused on the steps, seeing the Resnikovs’ car. Out of the vehicle came Ilya’s mother, Valerie Jacqueline, craning her neck and peering at Lily. A chill ran down her spine. Her would-be mother-in-law eyed her like a wolf sizing up prey. Lera spotted her friend’s face and stepped up. “Who’s that, Lily?” “Ilya’s parents.” “She’s watching you, lying in wait. It’s weird how they’re all circling you—something’s not right here. I told you Mum set up a room for you at ours—come with us.” Lily nodded. She felt unease as well. *** Living with her new friends, Lily found unexpected happiness—Lera’s cousin Ivan, a lifelong bachelor, began courting her. Ivan turned out to be a kind and good man, marrying Lily, adopting her daughter, and even helping her father-in-law. As for Sveta and Ilya, their marriage fell apart. It turned out Sveta had faked her pregnancy, wearing a fake belly and fooling the whole Resnikov clan. Natasha Anatolievna, keen to protect her daughter, confessed to her son-in-law that Sveta had miscarried early, but suggested a solution. “Ilya, don’t be angry at my girl—true, she lost the baby, but you’ve not been perfect either. You’ll soon have a child elsewhere. Why not take Lily’s baby as your own? She’s your flesh and blood, after all. We just pretend nothing’s happened, tell everyone Sveta’s still pregnant, and when Lily gives birth, take the baby and say it’s Sveta’s.” Ilya liked the plan. And everything would have worked, if only Lily hadn’t “kicked up a fuss,” refusing to leave her baby girl behind at the hospital and sending her old friend and her mother back to square one. Ilya’s mother, Valerie Jacqueline, disappointed by her daughter-in-law’s deception, kicked Sveta out and demanded her son divorce. A Child for a Friend—A Story of Betrayal, Motherhood, and Unbreakable Bonds

A Child for a Friend

As Emily neared the final months of her pregnancy, her younger brother left home, and her father started drinking heavily. Since then, Emilys days were filled with misery.

Her mornings began by airing out the tiny semi-detached house, sweeping discarded beer bottles from under the dining table, and waiting until her father finally stirred.

Dad, you shouldnt drink. You barely recovered from that stroke.

Ill drink if I want. Whos going to stop me? It eases the pain.

What pain?

The pain of knowing Im not wanted. Not even by you. Im a burden, Emily, a lost cause. Never shouldve married, never shouldve had childrenpassed down nothing but weakness and poverty. It was all a waste, love. Drinkings just easier.

Already in a gloomy mood, Emily grew cross.

Nothings a waste, Dad. People have been through worse, you know.

Worse? You grew up without a mother. And youre about to bring a poor child into the worldno father, and condemned to poverty.

Its not all so bleak, Dad. Life changes. Nothing is permanent; everything can turn around in a moment.

Emily thought back wistfully to the happiness shed felt not long ago, planning her wedding to James. Yes, her world had cracked open, but she had to carry on.

That afternoon, her father drank himself to oblivion again. Emily snapped, unable to hold back:

You drank the money Id put by for emergencies, didnt you? How did you even find it? Youve rummaged through the whole house, my things too?

Everything in this house is mine, her father declared. Including the pension you hide from me! My pension.

And you drank it all? Did you even care how were supposed to get by?

Why should I care? Im a sick man. Youve grown up; you look after me now!

Emily searched all the kitchen cupboards.

I know for certain there were two packets of spaghetti and a tub of butter here yesterday. Whereve they gone? What are we even supposed to eat for supper?

Emily was distraught, sitting down and covering her face with trembling hands.

How was she to know that Aunt Maureen had taken to visiting when she was out, getting her father drunk and quietly emptying the cupboards?

Like a sly old vixen, Maureen had crept into their lives and was doing everything she could to pull the family apart.

That night, Emily cried herself to sleep, famished and utterly crushed.

At dawn the next morning, there was a loud knock at the door. Maureen breezed in, dressed in a designer camel coat and polished bootsshe didnt even bother taking them off as she strutted into the house.

Morning, love. A friend of mine at the council tells me you lot have run up quite the debt, and the powers about to be cut off. What on earth is going on, Em? Got any tea to spare?

Maureen didnt wait for an answer, heading straight to the kitchen and rummaging in the fridge and cupboards.

Ill make the tea myself, you need a rest in your conditionjust like my Chloe… Listen, theres no milk, no sugar, not even a tea bag in sight. The cupboards completely bare. Lets nip down to Sainsburys, come on.

Emily refused to meet Maureens gaze.

Aunt Maureen, I cant offer you any tea. Its best if you leave.

But Maureen was determined.

Youre struggling, arent you? I can see it. Remember my offer? Move in with me, Emily. This is no place for a baby. Your fathers drinking, and youve nothing to eat! You dont even have fruit, or the vitamins you need. Start packing. Youre coming with me.

Just then, waves of dizziness overtook Emily, and she sat abruptly, tears spilling down her cheeks. Maureen enfolded her in a gentle embrace.

Look, sweetheart, I know how you feel about me. Theres no forgiving me after Chloe took your fiancé. But Im not a monster, and I cant stand seeing you suffer alone. Whether you want me to or not, Im going to take care of you.

Everything after that felt like a hazy dream: Maureen helping her pack, calling a taxi.

***

On the day Emily went into labour, Maureen didnt budge from her side.

Listen closely, Em. Ive already told the hospital staff youre planning to give the baby up. So when its over, dont pick her up, dont feed herdont even look at her.

Emily writhed, gripping the sheets.

Oh, Aunt Maureen, do as you please. I cant think through this painjust let it be over.

Remember what I saidon your own, you cant raise this child. Ive already found a lovely well-to-do couple willing to adopt her. Theyre waiting.

Hours later, a baby girl was born.

Three and a half kilos, lovely and healthy, the midwife said, wrapping the mewling newborn in a blanket and disappearing without showing Emily.

But the paediatrician strode in, fixing Emily with a stern look.

Whats going on here? Youve a healthy, beautiful baby girl, and you wont even look at her? Nurse, bring the baby back and let her feed.

Emily shook her head, distressed.

I dont want to. Ive no means to live, I didnt want this There are people who need this girl more than I do. Ill sign the paperstheyll adopt her.

Dont talk nonsense. At least look at her.

Bracing herself, Emily squeezed her eyes shut, but suddenly felt something small and soft at her hand.

The nurse had placed the baby next to her, rooting and opening her mouth, and at last Emily gazed at her child.

Tiny and helpless, the baby looked up and reached towards her, pawing clumsily at Emilys chest.

There now, Mum. Time to feed your little angel, the paediatrician smiled. She brightened as she saw Emily tremble from the shock and awe at her daughter.

She needs you, lovenot some strangers. Can you see it now?

Emily burst into tears, clutching her daughter tight and nodding feverishly.

The hours after the birth, Emily lay by her daughter, unable to take her eyes away. She felt, for the first time, something awaken inside her.

There it isthe meaning of my life. My daughter.
It doesnt matter that James left or that Dads lost to his drinking… She needs me. Ill never leave her.

***

Emily jerked awake to Maureens voice.

Maureen, in her dressing gown, entered the ward and stared at Emily lying in the bed.

Have you forgotten our agreement? she asked in a low voice. You promised youd give her up after the birth. The adoptive parents are ready to take her now.

Ive changed my mind, Maureen. I cant give her away.

But you havent got a penny to your name; youre virtually homeless. Where will you take her?

Home. I wont impose on you any longer. Ill manage, somehow.

Emily saw Maureens face twist with rage, her false gentility disappearing.

Have you lost your mind? With no money, how will you livebeg in the street?

The baby started to cry in her cot. Emily hurried to comfort her.

Dont touch her! Ill settle her and feed her formula. Well just tell the staff youve no milk, Maureen snapped.

Emily shook her head firmly.

Thats not your decision to make. Shes my daughter. I told youIve changed my mind, and Im keeping her.

You cant! You promised! Maureen spluttered.

Please leave.

Maureen stormed out. The woman in the next bed raised her head.

Who was that, love?

My aunt.

Blimey. Dont listen to her. You did the right thing telling her to go. Im Claire. If you need a hand, just say the word. The worlds got no shortage of decent people, you know.

Im Emily.

Glad to meet you, Em. That womanshe gave me the chills. Looked ready to snatch your baby and leg it.

***

Just before being discharged, a visitor came for Emily. Not allowed into the ward, Chloe waited for her in the hallwayher pregnancy almost full term.

Hi.

Emily sat slowly on the bench.

Chloe perched beside her.

I heard you had your baby.

Yesa little girl.

Chloe fidgeted.

Em, you know Mums lined up a couple willing to adopt your daughter?

So?

Theyre really nice people, honestly. Rich as you like. Theyd do anything for a baby like yours.

She leaned in, gripping Emilys hand.

Theyre offering you sixty thousand poundsfor your baby, imagine! You could get your own flat, or at least a room somewhere decent.

Sixty thousand? Emily nodded, her voice cold. Well, then, Chloe, if youre that concerned, why not sell your own child?

Chloes face flushed; she clung tighter to Emilys sleeve.

Please, Em! Give her to me, Ill take care of hershe is James daughter after all.

Think you can handle two children?

You dont understand, Emily! My lifes falling apart!

Emily stood abruptly, pulling her sleeve away. Chloes eyes were wild.

I need that child, Em!

Let go.

A few hours later, James appeared in the ward, storming in. Emily recoiled at the sight of him.

Youve had the baby? Can I see her?

No, you cant! You and Chloe are expecting, go be a father there.

We need to talk, Emily. Since the birth, I cant rest. ListenI want to take my daughter. Give her up and Ill adopt her, officially.

Emily shook her head.

Im not like you. I wont abandon someone who needs me. Youre wasting your time, I wont give her up.

James hovered, refusing to leave.

Hand her over! You had no right to have her without me! She belongs with me!

You? Mummys little boy? Perhaps ask your mother for permission first!

Emily pushed past him, took her daughter in her arms, and went straight to the nurses.

Please, can you make sure no visitors are allowed in to see me from now on? I dont want to see anyone. Enough is enough.

Epilogue

On the day Emily was discharged, she stepped from the maternity ward holding her daughter close.

She wasnt aloneClaire, her new friend, was leaving, met by her husband and mother.

Emily paused on the hospital steps as the Reginalds car pulled up.

Out stepped Valeria Reginald, James mother, craning her neck and narrowing her eyes at Emily.

A chill ran down Emilys spine.

Her would-be mother-in-law stood glowering, like a wolf about to pounce.

Claire noticed Emilys distress, and stood by her side.

Whos that, Em?

Jamess parents.

Shes glaring as if shes been waiting for you. I dont like itthis familys all over you, somethings off. Didnt I tell you, Mums kept the spare room ready for you. Come with us.

Emily nodded. The unease inside her wouldnt lift.

***

Living with her newfound friends, Emily discovered an unexpected happiness. Claires cousin, Jacka lifelong bachelorbegan to court her.

Jack was kind, sincere, and steadfast. He married Emily and adopted her daughter as his own, even offering help to Emilys troubled father.

As for Chloe and James, their marriage quickly crumbled.

It turned out Chloe had faked her pregnancy, hiding a false bump and deceiving the entire Reginald clan.

Maureen, desperate to save face for her daughter, confessed to her son-in-law that Chloe had lost her baby very early and proposed a scheme.

James, dont be angry with Chloeshe lost the baby, but youre not exactly blameless yourself. Your own childs about to be born elsewhere. How about taking Emilys baby and adopting her? Shes family, after all. Well keep Chloes miscarriage a secret, let everyone believe the baby is hers.

James leapt at the idea.

Everything went to planuntil Emily refused to give up her newborn daughter, leaving her old friend and Maureen with no way out.

Valeria Reginald, disgusted with her daughter-in-laws deception, forced Chloe to leave the house and made James divorce her.

Emily finally found her purpose in lifeher own little family, and the love she had always longed for.