“‘Anna is young—she’ll have another!’ she promised. In the end, no one wanted the child. Anna and R…

Emilys still youngshell have plenty more children! she promised. But, in the end, no one really wanted the child.

Emily and Thomas grew up in a quiet English market town and had always been in the same class at school. After they finished their A-levels, they both headed off to university together, and then set off for jobs in London. They rented a tiny flat, both managed to land jobs, and drifted along living together but never tying the knot. When Emily fell pregnant, Thomas decided he wasnt ready to be a father and left. Having a baby had never been in his plans.

Emily was terribly upset and ended up moving back home to raise her daughter. Thomass mum had quite a standing in their community, and she took every opportunity to tell people the child couldnt possibly be Thomass. According to her, Emily must have been with someone elsethat baby wasnt any relation to their family. To make things more awkward, the two families houses were only a few streets apart.

Most of their friends knew what had happened. Emily gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She never complained about Thomass family, only wanting a peaceful life to bring up her child. But Thomass mum kept saying the baby wasnt his.

Just look at her! shed exclaim to anyone whod listen. Shes got fair hairwere all dark! And her nose? Nothing like ours! Were all good-looking, but that child… well, shes the odd one out. Emily just wants to get her foot in the door of our family. Shes not right, you know!

Emily grew so tired of the gossip that she insisted on a paternity test, just to prove a point to Thomass mother. Why was she even going through with it? Still, the result was immediate: once the proof was there, Thomass mum changed her tune and suddenly invited Emily round so she could meet her granddaughter properly. She showered them with lavish giftsdolls, clothes, even a little gold bracelet. Emily, who was just about making ends meet from her mums pension, was quietly grateful for the help.

Time ticked by, and the newly reconciled grandmother asked if she could take her granddaughter for a few days. Emily said her little girl was only a year oldfar too soon to be away from her mum overnight. The grandmother took offence.

She warned Emily shed take her to court for visitation rights. And actually, the little one would have a far better life living with her gran, who had all the comforts a child could want. She rattled on about how the judge would see that the father had a flat, provided for his child (she already had a letter ready from his boss), and the mother was jobless and alone. Youre so young, Emily, she said, youll have more kidsyou should let me raise this one, love. I know everyone in the courts, it wont be hard to get things my way. Emily decided she had to stand her ground and fight for her daughter. Years went by as they battled in court.

The child, once disowned by her fathers family, now became the centre of their world. Thomass family rolled out the big gunswitnesses, paperwork, even private investigators poking about, snapping photos. Emily had no choice but to retreat and lay low for a while. It was a difficult time, honestly. But eventually, things calmed down. Thomas moved on, got married, and had a son. His mother promptly focused on her new grandson. Emilys little girl started primary school. Emily moved back to London. Still, she had to come home to look after her mum and daughter often. After a while, Emily met someone new. Her mum gently suggested she think about her own happiness for once, promising to take care of her granddaughter while Emily got her life in order.

Emily remarried, and they found a small flat to rent. She was pregnant again, and things finally seemed settled. But she hesitated to bring her daughter to live with her new husband, realising he wasnt terribly fond of children that werent his own. Emily decided her daughter was better off with her gran, who she knew and loved; everything that was familiarfriends, school, the neighbourhoodwas there. Once the new baby arrived, she knew shed be tight for help. At least this way, her mum wasnt alone either, and her daughter would get proper care.

But then, Emilys mums health took a turn for the worse. Several times, she had to ring for an ambulance; there were hospital stays. Sometimes, the little girl had to go stay with the elderly neighbours. And now, as for the influential grandmothershe didnt care a bit. When she spotted Emilys mum at the shops, shed just give a sly smile and say, I told you, didnt I? If youd let me have the girl when I asked, shed have been well taken care of! Shed be at some posh private school, playing piano and learning French by now. But, guess what? Her own mother just left her behind. Who knows what shell become? Anyway, Im busy with my grandsonhe gets everything he wants! Best tutors, best clubs, you name it.

Thomas, for his part, had never shown any interest in his daughter. And so, after all those years of wrangling and court battles, the little girl they all once argued over ended up not being wanted by anyone at all. No one knows whats in store for her future.