Of course! Please provide the original title you’d like rewritten.

Choice

So it turns out Tom is properly married sighed Alice, sitting on a park bench as she clutched her hospital referral tightly in her coat pocket.

The girls in her shared flat used to envy her whenever they saw her arm-in-arm with that striking, clean-shaven, blue-eyed gentleman. They reckoned shed scored herself a real gent. There wasnt much to envy in the end.

Alice shivered, remembering her one and only meeting with Toms wife, whod ambushed her outside the office. She wanted to set things straight.

Well, hello! You must be Alice? the woman began.

And you are? Alice stammered, unable to hold the steely gaze of the tall, slim woman with silvery-blonde hair.

Im Jane Tom Whitmores wife.

What?!

You heard me.

Just another plain Jane, the woman continued coolly. How many of you are there, honestly? Theres always someone hunting for another womans happiness.

How dare you? Alice tried to object.

Listen here. Jane gently but firmly took Alices arm. Who do you think you are? Im his wife. Ive seen you with him. Now you act up, when you should be apologizing, perhaps crawling away in shame. But manners clearly arent your strong suit.

She looked Alice up and down. You know, there have been more of you than I could count. Hes married. Have some self-respect. Youre just a passing bit of fun to him. Once he gets bored, youll be history. Stay away from my husband.

In fact, we have two daughters. Want to see? Jane pulled out her phone and showed a family holiday photo. There. Proof of something real. This was us in Brighton a couple months ago.

Alice swallowed. What do you want from me? Sort it out with your husband.

Oh, I will. Dont worry! He only got this new job at the factory recently, good salary and then you turned up. Do yourself a favour. Dont trust a word he says; Toms not leaving me. Dont waste your youth. What are you now, thirty?

Twenty-five, Alice replied, stung.

All the more reason. Youve still got time to get married have a family. Leave Tom alone.

Alice couldnt listen anymore. Her world, until that minute full of hopes and dreams, had crashed down the second Jane appeared. She felt shaky, her legs barely able to carry her away from this woman who tore away all her illusions.

Liar Alice muttered under her breath, feeling a lump in her throat. But she kept her head, refusing to let her emotions spill out in public where theyd become workplace gossip.

That evening, as if nothing happened, Tom turned up at Alices door with a bunch of flowers. Red-eyed and exhausted, she sent him away, no matter his promises and declarations of love, no matter how many times he said things with Jane had been over for years.

Two weeks passed as Alice tried to pull herself together. Tom didnt come around anymore. He barely looked her way at work.

But bad news rarely travels alone. Alice told herself the morning sickness and dizziness were from the stress until she realised the truth.

Six weeks The words felt like a sentence.

She simply wasnt ready to become a single mum. Terrified, she became convinced everyone knew, that they were judging her for trusting a man she never really knew at all.

Tom had lied about being married. What could she have done asked to see his marriage certificate? He didnt wear a wedding ring; not all married men do. Why hadnt she figured it out, when he insisted they keep quiet about their relationship at work?

Hed used her trust, and she was left to pick up the pieces. Office whispers started up about Janes dramatic appearance.

During a lunch break, desperate for answers, Alice cornered Tom. Im pregnant, she said, barely louder than a whisper.

Ill give you money. Just sort it out, he muttered, eyes fixed on the floor.

He quit the very next day and disappeared from her life, just like that.

Alice knew she couldnt put off making a decision. Ignoring the doctors advice, she finally took the referral for the procedure.

Now she was sitting on that chilly park bench, grasping the crumpled paper, afraid to let go.

In a hurry? a voice asked. A young man had cheerfully plonked himself down next to her, clutching a massive bouquet of deep red chrysanthemums.

Sorry? Alice looked up with hollow eyes.

Your watch its fast, he said, nodding towards her gold wristwatch.

Oh. My watch is always ten minutes fast. I keep trying to fix it, but its hopeless really, Alice replied, staring away.

The weather is beautiful today, isnt it? A proper Indian summer. My mum loves this time of year. She says she made the right choice in life on a warm autumn day like this, and never regretted it.

You know, my mums amazing! he grinned, giving a thumbs-up. Im so grateful to her.

Your dad? Alice asked before she could stop herself.

Shes never told me much, and I never wanted to make her uncomfortable. Shes always been enough.

Ive just come from an interview! Can you believe it, they picked me over nine others for a proper position at a top firm, and Ive barely got any experience. Still seems unreal. Mum always made me believe in myself.

And I already know how Ill spend my first pay cheque Im getting mum a holiday. Shes never seen the sea. Have you?

No. Alices eyes drifted to his deep red tie something about him made her feel calm.

It was a present from mum, he said proudly, catching where she was looking.

Sorry for rambling, but you looked a bit down, and I just wanted to share some good news for once. I hope Im not being a nuisance?

Alice shook her head. Rather than being annoyed, she found his chattiness warming. His tender love for his mum made her heart ache in a good way.

What utter devotion, she thought, watching him. How lucky she is… I wish I could have a son like that.

Well, Id better be off. Mum will be waiting for me and probably stressing! Dont rush for anything, alright?

Sorry?

I meant your watch, he teased, smiling as he got up.

Oh, Alice replied, smiling back.

A moment later, he vanished into the autumn sun, leaving Alice staring at the referral slip shed clutched so tightly. Without hesitation, she tore it into tiny shreds.

She sat there for ages, mesmerised, breathing deeply the crisp autumn air. That brief encounter so short, and yet so heartwarming lifted something heavy from her heart.

She wasnt alone after all. Some women brought up wonderful sons on their own. She hadnt even thought to ask his name but it didnt matter now.

Her decision was made.

***

Twenty-three years later

Mum, Im going to be late! Harry was at the mirror while Alice fussed over his new burgundy tie, bought for his big job interview tomorrow.

Maybe you should skip it.

Its for confidence, mum. Trust me, itll be fine. Theyll hire me for sure now There, much better! Alice said, standing back and admiring her son.

Im nervous what if I mess up?

Its your job, Harry. Youll be brilliant. Just answer everything clearly and dont forget to smile youre absolutely dashing.

Thanks, mum. Harry beamed, kissed her cheek, and headed out.

Alice watched him from the window as her precious boy strode off to the bus stop, full of hope. Suddenly a strange sensation washed over her

Shed seen something like this before, all those years ago

That cheerful boy on the park bench, over twenty years back

Harry, looking so sharp and hopeful in his suit, reminded her strikingly of him.

Funny. Shed forgotten that encounter for years. But now the memory shimmered before her like the autumn sun.

Was it fate? Looking back, had she been granted a glimpse of the very child shed come so close to losing, shown a path to the only right choice?

Why hadnt she properly talked to that boy, asked about his mum? But maybe that didnt matter now.

Everything turned out exactly as it should.

After lunch, Harry returned with a huge bunch of burgundy chrysanthemums, matching his tie, and announced hed landed the job.

And he promised theyd finally go see the seaside after all, his mum had never been.

Now it was his turn to look after her. He swore hed move mountains if he had to, even turn the river back. That was Alices son.

No matter what came their way over the years, whenever life got too much, Alice would bury her face in his hair and the world lightened.

They got through everything together.

Not once did Alice regret becoming a mum. She knew, deep in her heart, that shed made exactly the right choice.

And thats how it was meant to be.