Didn’t Want To, But Did: The Nerve-Wracking Choices of Vasilisa Living Alone in Her Grandmother’s Country Cottage, Facing Village Gossip, Deadly Debts, and a New Love with Anton the Local Policeman

Didnt want to, but did

Sarah wasnt much of a smoker, you know? Still, shed convinced herself that a cigarette would calm her nerves. She stood out in the garden of her late grandmothers cottage, watching the quiet lane in her little English village. Her thoughtswell, they were swirling with worries and shadows lately.

Sarah lived alone now, in the house Gran left her. Her parents were only seven miles away, in another small village, but at twenty-three, shed wanted independence, her own space. She worked at the local post office.

She couldnt even finish her cigarettestubbed it out and tossed it. I dont like smoking, she sighed, thinking about how her mate Becky seemed to chain-smoke all day. It was Becky who suggested it, saying it soothed the nerves. Sarah wasnt convinced.

Just then, a car rolled slowly past her gateit was the new local bobby, Tom, fresh from his post in the neighbouring town. Sarah had picked up the gossip from work. She watched his car vanish, then slipped back inside as dusk crept over the village. She had a dangerous task ahead.

Yesterday at the post office, the crowd wasnt quite as thick as usual. Villagers popped in and out.

Just you wait, Mrs Margaret said, Tomorrowll be mayhemeveryone turning up for their pensions!

Margaret had worked in the post office since forever. Even the oldest folks couldnt remember anyone else there.

Thirty years at this old counter, shed say. Cant imagine working elsewhere.

Young Becky would grin, My mum says the post office wouldnt run without you, Margaret! You keep the place ticking.

Ah, someone elsed fill the spot if I left, Margaret replied, Ill be off to retirement soon enough.

A woman bustled in thenLinda, forty-two, a bit on the plump side. Phew, its warm today! she laughed. Im after a subscription for my neighbourold Mrs Gladys. She loves her magazines, and were jetting off on holiday to Spain tomorrow, so I promised to sort it out before we go. Poor dear cant get about much, so she loses herself in her reading.

Margaret nodded. Spain eh? Thatll be lovely, soak up some sun.

Linda winked, First thing Ill do is post photos online, just bought a new swimsuitso keep your eyes peeled! And with that, she was gone.

Beckys eyes went wide. How much must that trip cost? Spain, with the kids and all

Margaret shrugged, Her husbands a farmer, they do alright.

Only Sarah kept to herself, hunched by the computer, quietly listening and thinking.

Later, PC Tom popped in, all smiles. Afternoon, Im expecting a dispatchcould you check? he said to Becky, but he glanced at Sarah and seemed to freeze.

Didnt know you had such lovely ladies working here, he teased, though you do look rather down

Margaret caught his look, Thats Sarah. Lost her fiancé not long ago, poor girl.

Tom nodded, and Becky rifled through the mail. Nothing for you yet, Im afraid.

Three weeks earlier, Sarahs fiancé David had been killed. They found him dead in a car park in the nearby town. Word was, hed secretly gotten involved in underground gambling. Sarah hadnt known a thing. The police turned up nothing, but late one night, two lads came from town, banging on Sarahs door. She recognized themthey used to hang around David.

Your fiancé owed us a heap of money, sneered one, whose name was Alex.

But hes dead! Sarah stammered.

Debts dont die, Alex grinned, naming a huge sumthree thousand pounds.

How am I supposed to get that?

Not our problem. You work at the post officeyou know whos got money in this village. Find some. Well be back in two weeks. If you go to the police, youre finished. He tossed her a set of lock-picks. Here. Any door in, any door out.

When they left, Sarah locked up fast, heart thudding. She barely slept, wrestling with guilt and fear. Eventually, she decided: when Lindas family left for Spain, shed sneak over. She knew they didnt have a dog, just a locked gateeasy enough, she climbed over.

Fingers trembling, Sarah fiddled with the lock. Alex was rightthe picks worked. Every step inside felt like crossing a line. She was no better than the thugs who forced her into this.

God, what am I doing? she whispered, as she rummaged in the brightly-lit room, an amber glow from the streetlamp stretching through the window. All this for survival. David, look what youve left me with. Youre gone and Im here, risking everything.

She wanted to call the cops, tell Tombut she was terrified. Alex was ruthless, and hed find her anywhere. Sarah managed to scrape together just £150, plus a gold ring and bracelet from Lindas dresser, and on a whim, shoved their laptop in her bag.

She slipped away into the night, glancing nervously at dark windowsonly the odd lazy bark from a dog. No sign of life, no witnesses. She was shaking, panicked.

Back home, she hid the bag deep in Grans old trunk behind a pile of blankets. Didnt sleep that night. Head pounding, she dragged herself to work. By midday, she ducked out to the local café for lunch.

And there was Tom, all smiles. She jumped.

Dont worry! Just heading to the café myself, he grinned.

Sarah tried to keep cool. You knew Id be here? Was itme you wanted?

Spot on. He winked, clearly joking.

His easy charm calmed her. They started having lunch together, Tom occasionally walked her home after work, sometimes stayed over.

Word spread fast:

Sarahs nabbed herself the new copper! muttered Rachel. My daughter was after him, too!

Oh hush, said Molly. Its written all over their faces, theyre smitten!

And it was truetheir feelings were mutual. Some villagers were quick to judge.

Her fiancés barely in his grave, now shes got a new bloke already?

Others came to Sarahs defence. Should she stay miserable forever? Let her live.

Still, that day was closing inthe infamous two-week deadline. Sarah was terrified. What if Alex found Tom in her house? She desperately wanted to confess, and with only two days left, she finally blurted out, Tom, I have to tell you something

He misread her. I knowI love you too.

No, its not that she insisted.

Tom listened seriously, disbelief on his face. How could his bright, gentle girlfriend get tangled up in this? But he understoodtheyd threatened her.

Blimey, Sarah. You have to answer for this. Wheres the stuff? he sighed. You shouldve come to me straight away.

She handed him the bag. He tried to reassure her. Two nights later, as promised, Alex and his mate came knocking. She opened the door, hands shaking.

I triedI couldnt find enough. Please, give me more time! she begged.

Alex grabbed her hard. No more time. Either the cash, or He yanked her shirt, tearing the collar. But suddenly, his mate crumpled behind him, Alex fell next, and Tom stood over them snapping cuffs on. Another policeman hauled Alexs friend outside.

Its over, Tom whispered gently. Theyll get whats coming. Youll have to come to the station tomorrow.

Sarah confessed everything to the detective. Linda returned from holiday, her things were restored, and Tom quietly asked the detective to keep Sarahs involvement secret. Somehow, the whole thing was put down to Alex and his matethey were also found guilty of Davids murder and sent away for a long stretch.

Soon after, Tom proposed to Sarahthere was a lovely village wedding. His love washed away her troubles, heal her old wounds. Now theyre raising little Rosie together.