I’m Not Living With You Anymore! Nothing I Do Is Ever Right! – Anna Glared at Her Mum, Angry and Hurt – Fine When I Was a Kid: Don’t Go There, Don’t Do That, But I’m Twenty Now, Mum!

Im not living with you anymore! Nothings ever right with you! Emily glares at her mother, her voice full of anger and hurt. Its fine when I was a child: dont go here, dont do that, but Mum, Im twenty now! Twenty. Ive been an adult for two years.

Well, if youre grown up and dont want to live with us, youd better get a job, find your own flat, and pay your own way. Thats my answer, her mum replies firmly.

Unbelievable! Emily snorts. First its study, dont get distracted by parties, now youre saying I should go work as if uni doesnt matter anymore. Dont you want to help your own daughter at all?

Youre so independent, always doing your own thing without asking us for advice, her father chimes in, backing up her mum. So, if you dont want us in your business, now you can start your fully independent life.

Of course, the situation doesnt suit Emily one bit. Her mum never forces her to clean or cook, her dad pays the bills, does the food shop, and sometimes even slips a bit of money onto his darling daughters card. Lifes been comfortable and easy that way if only her parents would keep their opinions to themselves.

Still, her stubborn nature wont let her back down. Theres even a family rumour that one of Emilys great-great-grandmothers was a staunch suffragette. Whenever her parents complain about Emilys rebelliousness, they bring that little story up.

Eventually, Emily gets a job and rents a tiny flat just off the university campus. Only now does she truly understand what not enough money actually looks like. Shes overheard others talking about it on the bus, in the background at family gatherings, or on those endless television talk shows muttering about cant afford even the basics.

The rent on her pokey little flat gobbles up most of her modest pay, and she still has to make sure theres food, pay for her bus pass, and cope with all those daily expenses. The noisy parties she used to dream of slide quietly off her list of priorities. Without realising it, Emily begins to learn the value of earning her own money, and some of her parents nagging no longer seems so unreasonable.

One evening, walking back from a shift, she finds herself behind a couple of rowdy lads, jeering and making crude, witless jokes. Emily shakes her headhonestly, whats going on in their heads? Have they got a single decent thought between them?

At the steps of an empty, forever-shuttered shop, an old lady sits, someone Emily often sees there. Sometimes the woman mumbles things nobody can quite catch. At her feet is a battered tin, where the odd passerby drops a few coins. In this era of tapping cards and Apple Pay, not many have spare coins left in their pockets. But Emily tries to keep a few for this old lady. She isnt quite sure whybefore all this, she probably wouldnt have even noticed her.

To call the woman a beggar hardly seems right, though. Worn-out clothes and a battered tin dont hide a sense of inner dignity. She always nods gratefully at anyone who leaves a coin and just quietly keeps her place on those cold, grey concrete steps.

The two lads walk past with a sneer; one of them casually boots the tin away. It clatters and rolls, sending a spatter of coins fluttering across the pavement. Slowly, painfully, the old lady gets to her feet and starts picking them up with stiff fingers, refusing to give up.

Whats wrong with you idiots? Emily snaps and rushes over to help.

The lads burst out laughing, yell something disgusting at her, and swagger off down the street.

Here you go, Emily says, gently handing the old woman her scattered change, then adds a note shes set aside for her. And here, take this.

Thank you, the woman murmurs, her surprisingly bright eyes lifting in Emilys direction. I recognise you you always drop something in my tin.

She strokes the battered container. All bashed up now, will have to find a new one.

Her hands shake. To Emily, the old woman seems generally unwell.

Do you live far? Emily asks.

No. See those five-storey blocks in the courtyard? I live there. She nods.

Let me walk you, Emily offers, holding out an arm, You look like itll be a struggle.

Hearts given me a bit of bother. Got upset. Thanks, love. I wont keep you long, the old woman says, leaning heavily on Emilys arm.

In the small flat on the third floor, theyre greeted by a parade of cats. Emilys eyebrows shoot up in surpriseshe loses count of how many there are.

Twelve, the old lady explains, noticing Emilys astonishment. I never thought Id have so many myself.

But why keep so many?

Its not that I need them, love. They need me. Without me, they wouldnt survive. Cabbie and Lucie were thrown in a bin bag in the middle of a freezing winterI found them by the bins when I was taking out my rubbish. Lucie was squeaking, Cabbie was barely alive. Floss I took off some lads, and Ron just showed up at the shop. Fenny had her litter in the cellarhad to take them all before someone poisoned them You think Im mad, dont you?

No, not at all! Emily says, flustered. There are just so many How do you look after them all?

Thats why I sit outside, the old woman nods.

From that day, they become friends. It might sound odd, but Emily finds she cant go on living like nothings happened. Every so often, she visits Mrs. Eleanor Mayfield, as she now knows her. Emily tells her story on her social media. To her surprise, beyond the usual cruel or sarcastic comments, there are kind words, offers of help. Soon there are many more.

Em, her dad asks her warily, whats this all about? You never were much for animals.

Dad, its not just about loving animals, Emily replies. We never talked about pets at homeI didnt even realise I could have asked for a dog or cat. Now Im not sure why not.

She pauses, then adds, Mrs. Mayfield says its not that she needs the cats, but that they need her. Shes right. Without her, theyd all have died by now.

So what, youre going to fill your flat with cats and sit with them all day? her dad says, almost outraged. We used to call women like that old maids. The ones who couldnt get married and collected cats to smash their loneliness.

Im not filling my flat with cats, Emily says sharply. I just wanted to take one, to help Mrs. Mayfield out, but my landlady says no pets. We just see things differently, thats all. Im not a little girl anymore, and Im not doing anything wrong.

You arent, no, her dad sighs. But wasting your life on all this We just feel sorry for you, love.

Dont feel sorry for me, Dad. Honestly, Im fine.

Emily keeps helping Mrs. Mayfield. Through her online posts, she finds new families for four of the youngest catslittle Fennys kittens, who were nearly poisoned in a cellar. But eight cats remain with their owner; most are already well past middle-age in cat years, and few want to take on their care. As for Mrs. Mayfield, after so many years, she cant imagine life without them.

Emily, if anything ever happens to me, please dont abandon them, Mrs. Mayfield says one day, with anxiety in her voice. I know Im asking a lot, love. But I just cant see how theyd survive without me. And Ive got no one nearer than you anymore.

Emily always feels awkward asking why Mrs. Mayfield lives alone, until one day, the woman tells her painfully, You know, I could have had a granddaughter like you, but it wasnt to be. Emily learns then that Mrs. Mayfields only son divorced after learning he couldnt have children, and then died in the line of duty, leaving her alone with her cats. She could never walk past someoneor somethingin need.

One day, when Emily calls round, theres no answer. She rings the next-door neighbour.

Hello! Have you seen Mrs. Mayfield at all? Has she gone out?

Emily, is that you? She shouldnt have gone out, she was feeling poorly this morning. Oh, I hope nothings happened. Hold on, Ive got a spare key.

Mrs. Mayfield is lying still, looking as if shes only asleep. Her face is peaceful, her wrinkles softened. The cats are padding around, confused, mewling gently.

God bless her, our Mrs. Mayfields gone, the neighbour crosses herself. Emily weeps quietlyshes never dealt with death like this before.

What do I do now? What am I supposed to do? she keeps asking, helpless.

Emily, sweetheart, look, theres a note on the table for you.

Through her tears, Emily reads Mrs. Mayfields shaky writing: the old lady has left her flat to Emily in her will, and begs her not to desert the cats.

I can only turn to you, my dear girl she reads, the tears running faster than ever.

Emily never imagined shed have to quickly learn so much about probate law and inheritance. Shed be struggling far more if not for Ben.

She met Ben after her very first post about the cats. He was one of the few whod written in with support, and soon they were chatting, then dating. Ben comes from a different sort of familypets have always been part of life for him, and he genuinely loves animals. He helps out at local shelters and runs successful animal rescue campaigns online. With his help, theyd already placed Fennys four kittens in good homes.

Bens studying law, and his knowledge and kindness are a lifeline for Emily.

Emily, thats fantastic! her friend Chloe exclaims. Youve got your own flat! Get Ben to send those cats to a shelter and youre done!

Chloe, I cant do that, Emily protests. I promised Mrs. Mayfield Id look after them.

Shes passed away. Shell never know. And the flat is yours! You must be mad to be saddling yourself with those animals; what if they live for years?

Well, however long they live, they live. I cant go back on my word. She trusted me. And theyre so affectionatethey break your heart.

Youre talking like an old dear! Chloe laughs. Even your dad hinted youre becoming an old maid. I mean, you made a promise. As long as you keep that cat crowd, nobodyll want to come over. Men will run a mile.

Chloe, you know Im not fussed about men anyway.

Well, you never will be, not like this! Chloe snips back. Cant understand it, sorry.

Her parents arent in favour, either.

A flats nice, her mum paces the living room anxiously. But the way this has all happened, its unnatural, like something out of a film. A stranger leaving you their inheritance.

What surprises you? her dad asks. She was an old dotty woman, pulled the wool over Emilys eyes. Got her promise and ruined her life.

Ruined it how? Emily flares up. She meant well.

Well for her cats! her mum retorts, throwing her arms up. Not for you, silly. Clearing her conscience. She never thought about it when she took in all those cats.

Emily leaves her parents house in tearseveryone seems to think shes an idiot, even telling her to throw the cats onto the streets.

Emily, wait! Ben catches up with her near Mrs. Mayfields building. Hi! I was heading to you. Whats wrong?

Ben, do you think Im mad? She asks him directly.

Why would I?

Because of the cats. Everyone, even my parents, says Ive ruined my life because I agreed to the willand even more so because I havent thrown the cats out. Maybe its not too late to turn down the flat?

Turn it down? Ben looks at her gently. Mrs. Mayfield left it to you because youre a kind person. Anywhere else, those cats would already be on the street by nowlikely put to sleep.

You dont judge me for this?

No. Honest, there arent many truly decent, genuine people these days. Im lucky to have met you. Actually, I posted Mrs. Mayfields story againthis time saying shed died. A lady replied, shes ready to take two of the cats. Thats why I cameso we could meet her, see how she is

When Emily and Ben get married, four of the original twelve cats remain with them. Ron finds a new home with the neighbour.

Oh, Ive always loved that boysuch a softy, the neighbour says. And I know youll be nearby, if anything happens.

Another cat goes to live with Bens parents.

My mum and dad are old hands! Ben laughs. I spent my childhood bringing strays home.

Then, when Emily comes back from hospital with baby Matthew, she finds Cabbie, Lucie, Floss, and Fenny lined up in the hallway to greet her.

The nannies are on standby! Ben jokes. Or what do we call them, cat-grandmas?

Hello, my dears, Emily greets them fondly. Missed me, did you? Let me just settle Matthew, and then Ill give you all a good cuddle, my furry inheritance!Ben sets the kettle on, and the flat thrums with quiet, busy warmth. Matthew squeaks from his Moses basket, a soft, demanding sound. Floss winds around Emily’s ankles and Lucie leaps onto her lap, purring with an ancient wisdom only cats carry.

She watches Ben move aboutcareful not to step on any tail, chatting softly with the neighbour whos popped in to drop off homemade biscuits and to tickle Matthews tiny fist. The sun slants golden through the window, painting the cats in honeyed stripes.

Between feeds and fur, Emily thinks often of Mrs. Mayfieldof promises made and kept, of unexpected kinships, of how loneliness sometimes leads not to isolation but to a tangled, beautiful web of connections. Shes carved out a life of her ownnot the one her parents pictured, not the one Chloe jokes about, but one stitched together by kindness and second chances.

When Matthew falls asleep, Emily stands by the window, gazing out across the citys rooftops. In the courtyard, a girl about her age hurries past, head down, lost in her own world. Emily wonders if her story will someday cross paths with someone who just needs a gentle word, or a bit of companyor even a home.

She strokes Fennys head and whispers, We took care of each other, didnt we? The cats blink back at her, serene and unimpressed by sentiment, yet somehow, she knows they understand.

Sometimes, love finds its way not in grand declarations, but in quiet devotion to creaturesand peoplewhod otherwise drift alone. It surprises Emily that the life she once argued against is the one shes come to treasure most of all.

She glances at Ben, at Matthew, at the four gentle guardians sprawled around her, and feelsfinally and simplyat home.

The flat echoes with laughter, with new beginnings, with the softest company. And whenever Emily catches a glimpse of Mrs. Mayfields old photograph on the mantelpiece, she smiles, certain that promises kept can turn the smallest acts of care into something like a legacyone that purrs, mewls, and waits faithfully by the door.