A woman lived alone in the woods for ten years until two newborn babies appeared on her doorstep.
Emily, as she did every morning at first light, stepped into her garden. There was always work to be done: watering the vegetable patch, pulling weeds, checking the chicken coop, and inspecting the fruit treesall of which demanded time and care. And she had no one to help her. No neighbours nearby. She had grown accustomed to solitude, though sometimes it weighed on her like a stone in her chest.
By evening, she planned to go huntingit was necessary, as her meat supplies were running low, and the nearest shop was miles away. But first, she wanted to rest for a while, perhaps take a stroll or simply sit beneath the old oak tree by her porch. Just then, her loyal dog trotted upa strong, noble-looking dog named Duke. He was more than a companion; he was her protector and helper in all things.
«Well, my good boy, fancy a walk? Come on then, weve time before dark,» she said warmly, scratching behind his ear. Duke wagged his tail as if understanding that rest was needed before the work ahead. He settled beside her, resting his head on his paws as if to say, *Ill waitIm right here.*
Emily fetched the buckets and walked to the well. This summer had been unusually hot and dryeven for these parts, where rain usually arrived by July. The flowers wilted, leaves browned early, and the earth cracked like old china. She had to water the garden more often than usual to keep anything alive. She had lived alone for years, entirely on her own. At first, her mother had been with her, but then she passed, leaving Emily alone in the house where her grandfather once lived.
Her grandfather had been a stern, private man, nearly a recluse. He had built this house himself in the depths of the forest, far from others. The reason, as far as anyone knew, was bitternesshe had never forgiven the world for failing his wife when she was in labour. If only someone had helped back then, if doctors had come in time, if there had been a car or even a horse, Margaret might have lived. Perhaps there would have been grandchildren playing in the yard while he told them stories. But that never happened.
Emily remembered asking him, time and again, to explain what had occurred. But he had stayed silent for years. Only when she was grown, when she had begun seeing James and spoke of marriage, did he finally speak. His face darkened, his voice firm.
«Dont marry him,» he said quietly.
«Why, Grandad? Hes a decent man. His family doesnt drink, which is rare enough around here.»
«Doesnt matter. Theyre no goodrotten to the core.»
«Its not the Middle Ages anymore, Grandad! Times have changed. Youre the one who shut yourself away from people. Why? Maybe youve forgotten how to live among them.»
Her grandfather sighed as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. «Sit down. Ill tell you how your grandmother died.»
Emily sat beside him, barely breathing. She knew whatever came next would change everything.
He began with a winter long past, when the village had no carsonly tractors and horses. Blizzards raged daily, roads were buried, and the nearest town might as well have been another country. Margaret had refused to leave early, afraid to leave her husband in a cold house alone. When her labour began, the storm was so fierce that no horse could be taken from the stable. Her grandfather ran to the neighbours, but no one would risk their animals.
The local midwife said the hospital was waiting on the main road, but it was impossible to reach. Then her grandfather turned to Petera man who had once loved Margaret but lost her to another. He fell to his knees, begging. Peter only laughed. «Cant even get your wife to hospital?»
In a fury, her grandfather grabbed him by the collar, but others pulled them apart. With his late brother, he loaded Margaret onto a sledge and dragged her through the snowdrifts for four agonising hours. At the hospital, it was too late. Only the child survivedEmilys mother.
When he finished, Emily sat pale, her fists clenched.
«Grandad, thats horrible. But what does it have to do with James and me?»
«That Peterhe was Jamess grandfather.»
The words struck her like a lightning bolt. Her stomach turned. Did James know? His grandfather had been kind to her, even admiring. Did he realise whose granddaughter stood before him?
Emilys parents hadnt openly opposed the match, but they had been uneasy. Now she wondered: did James know the history between their families? She had to find out.
First, she asked her grandfather:
«Is that why you live out here?»
«Aye. After that, I couldnt bear the sight of people. So I built this place, far from everything. Ive managed well enough. Your mother moved in with her aunt when she grew up. No hard feelingseveryone must live their own life.»
Emily remembered visiting him as a child, rare trips at first, then more often once she got a bicycle.
One day, pedalling home, she saw smoke. Thick and black, rising from their house. Her heart stopped. She tore forward, legs pumping harder than ever. What had happened? Where were Mum and Dad?
The crowd stopped her. Faces grim, voices hushed.
«Stay strong, love. Your mum ran back in for the catsomething collapsed. Your dad went after her»
«Then do something! Why are you just standing there?»
«Whats to be done now?»
«Let me through!»
But they held her back. Emily screamed, fought, clawed. Tears blinded her.
Her grandfather didnt survive the news. After the funeral, he took to his bed and never rose again. Emily stayed by his side, reading to him, making soup, singing the old songs he loved. And James came. Once, twice, three times.
«Come for a walk. Ive missed you.»
She looked at him, pain and mistrust in her eyes.
«Youve missed me? And what about what Im feelingdoes that matter?»
«Of course it does. I just thought a walk might help.»
«Help? In your family, other peoples losses never mattered much.»
Jamess face darkened.
«I suppose you mean that ancient history. Whats it got to do with us?»
«Nothing? None of you care. Just like those who couldve saved my parents. You know whatgo. And dont come back.»
He narrowed his eyes.
«Emily, youre upset. You dont mean that.»
«I do. I cant stand the sight of you.»
«Are you certain?»
«Completely.»
«Fine. I wont trouble you again.»
As he walked away, she stood by the gate, watching him disappear toward the village. She wanted to call out*Wait! Im sorry!*but she didnt. She just locked the gate and returned to her grandfather.
Emily was alone. A week after her parents funeral, the earth still fresh on their graves, her grandfather slipped away quietly. As if he had waited until she was strong enough to stand without him before letting go.
After the final service, her aunther mothers sisterapproached her.
«Emily, come stay with us. Theres plenty of room.»
«No. Ill stay here.»
«Live like a hermit? Your grandfather was rightpeople are worse than beasts.»
«You cant mean that! Youre youngyou shouldnt hold grudges. I expect you said something to James. That old feuds still poisoning your life.»
Emily stayed silent, turning so her aunt wouldnt see her face. There was truth in the words, but she wasnt ready to admit it, even to herself. Had James known all along?
That evening, she realised for the first time: she didnt belong in the village anymore. Not because the people were unkind, but because every glance, every whisper, carried echoes of the pasta past too painful to bear.
So she stayed alone. Entirely alone. With the house, the garden, Duke, and her memories. Ten years passed before the village intruded on her life againsuddenly and sharply.
A year ago, on a rare trip for supplies, she saw James. He stood on his porch, a heavily pregnant woman beside him. But what froze her was the sight of his left leggone, replaced by a prosthetic with a rubber tip.
James felt her stare and turned. Their eyes met. A heartbeat. Then Emily fled. Only once shed shut her gate did she catch her breath. After that, she avoided the village entirely, shopping in the nearest town instead. No one there knew her story. No whispers. No pity.
But fate wasnt finished with her. At the bus station, she bumped into an old friendTanya, as chatty as ever.
«Youll never guessJames brought his wife home from hospital,» Tanya babbled. «Shes a nurse, thought shed married a hero, but got a cripple in a half-ruined
