Emily was born in a fairly large village on the banks of a beautiful river. Just beyond the village stretched vast fields, and on the outskirts stood rows of old but still sturdy farms, alongside a newly built large cooperative barn.
It was this barn that the village couples chose for their romantic rendezvous, or rather, the picturesque meadow behind it. Typically, the local boys and girls would gather in a lively crowd in the evening, heading to dances or the cinema. After the film ended and darkness fell, the young people would pair off and make their way to the barn.
The meadow by the barn was spacious, dotted with stumps, bushes, and fallen trees, providing plenty of secluded spots for the couples. In the darkness, laughter and whispers filled the air, and occasionally someone would start singing a beautiful song, with others joining in from all corners. In short, evenings at the barn meadow were the main entertainment for the village youth.
Emily lived in an ordinary rural family with five other children besides herself. Their daily life was much like that of their neighbors: the older children looked after the younger ones, while the parents worked—some in the fields, others on the farm. Emily, however, stood out from her village friends. She felt she was far smarter and more beautiful than those “clucks.” She was certain that she was destined for greater things. Her passion was romantic melodramas and foreign TV series about glamorous, luxurious lives. The elegant, femme-fatale heroines and dashing, wealthy suitors made her heart race. Night after night, Emily dreamed of a handsome, rich man who would chance upon her, fall head over heels in love, and whisk her away to a grand mansion. They would sail on his white yacht or sit by a fireplace, sipping wine served by devoted servants.
In reality, Emily finished village school and immediately started working on the farm as a milkmaid. Like most women in the village, she had no aptitude for academics. Though she shone with wit, she had no desire to pursue further studies, and she needed to earn a living. With five other children to support, her parents couldn’t provide for her food and clothing.
Her reality starkly contrasted with her dreams. At dawn, Emily rushed to the farm, wading knee-deep in mud to feed and milk the cows. She wholeheartedly despised her job, her home, her family, and the village itself. She felt trapped in a dungeon, devoid of light or beauty, with no way out.
Like her friends, Emily went to the village club in the evenings, but she had never made it to the barn meadow. None of the boys appealed to her. They all seemed dirty and dim-witted, lacking any mystery or romance. What mystery or moonlit poetry could she expect from a boy who spent his day plowing fields on a tractor? Her friends openly teased her.
— No one’s riding in on a white horse for you, not a count or even a lowly baron. You’ll sit there, Emily, a spinster until old age, and when your prince finally shows up, you’ll be too old for him.
But Emily only raised her head proudly and said nothing. How could those village clucks understand her lofty dreams? Say what you will, God hadn’t shortchanged her in looks. Tall, striking, with a thick brunette braid reaching her waist and smoldering, almost black eyes, she resembled a heroine from old TV shows about frontier settlers. Plenty of boys pined for her, but receiving no response, they quickly turned their attention to less aloof girls. Her parents had long given up hope of seeing her married or having grandchildren.
But then a miracle happened. A new agronomist arrived in the village from the city. The village council chairman himself drove him to the farm to introduce him to everyone. The moment Emily laid eyes on the young man, she knew her moment had come.
The new agronomist, dressed smartly in a fine suit and tie, blushed like a child while speaking to the milkmaids.
— Good afternoon, respected ladies. My name is James Michael. I’m very pleased to meet you.
The women playfully teased him without malice.
— You don’t even know us yet, and you’re already showing respect!
— Look at this young lad! Who’s the lucky girl gonna be?
— Watch out, James, don’t get that fancy suit dirty in the manure. Bet it cost a pretty penny!
The chairman hushed the rowdy women.
— Quiet down, you lot! You’ll scare the agronomist off!
— I won’t run, Paul Samuel, — James smiled, regaining his composure. — Let them have their fun; it’ll make the work livelier.
All this time, Emily stood slightly apart, unable to take her eyes off the agronomist. Her heart pounded in her temples. This was her dream, she thought—just grab it by the tail. Stepping forward, she spoke.
— When will your family arrive? Your wife, your children?
— Ooh! — the milkmaids exclaimed. — Emily’s not wasting any time!
James blushed but answered.
— I’m not married.
He looked at Emily closely and suddenly thought he’d never seen such a beautiful girl. He certainly wouldn’t be bored in this unfamiliar village.
Soon, the villagers were abuzz with gossip.
— Look at that! Emily’s hooked the agronomist. She got her prince after all. Lucky girl!
And indeed, James began courting her, while Emily was delirious with happiness and pride. Her fairy tale was becoming reality. Now she spent her evenings at the barn meadow, much to her friends’ envy, with the young, educated agronomist.
A couple of months later, after many dates, James proposed, and Emily accepted. They had a grand, lively wedding, celebrated for three days as tradition demanded. As a gift, the village council chairman, Paul Samuel, gave the newlyweds a large house, explaining to the villagers.
— We need to attract young, promising talent from the city to the village to develop agriculture. Well done, Emily! We’ve got our own agronomist now, and he’s not going anywhere.
The couple moved into their new home, and Emily left her job at the farm. She threw herself into family life, decorating the house and managing the household. A year later, their first child was born. James was over the moon with joy. Emily grew even more beautiful and couldn’t stop marveling at her family. Another year later, their second child arrived, and the young mother devoted all her time to her children and husband. Over seven years, they had five children.
Emily began to feel like a breeding machine. She had less and less time for herself and rarely looked in the mirror. There was no time for outings or entertainment. James stayed late at work, coming home exhausted and finding solace in playing with the children. Emily watched it all and realized with horror that this wasn’t what she’d dreamed of. She was slowly turning into a village cluck, just like her friends. What difference did it make that their husbands were tractor drivers and hers was an agronomist? Sure, he earned more, but otherwise, he was no different from the other men. He’d abandoned his suits and ties—too impractical for fieldwork, he said. He didn’t buy a sleek car but a rugged SUV to navigate the bumpy roads and fields for work. And all she did was wipe her children’s noses, cook, feed, and clean, in an endless cycle. What about the white yacht? What about quiet evenings by the fireplace?
With each passing day, a quiet hatred grew in the young woman—toward her family, her once-beloved husband, who was turning into a typical village man, her children’s clingy love, following her every step, and this suffocating life with no escape.
But the long-awaited explosion finally came. A crew of builders arrived from the city. Paul Samuel had decided to renovate the old farm and hired workers. By day, the builders worked on the farm, but in the evenings, the club and the barn meadow rang with their lively songs and stories. The village girls flocked to the charming city boys, pairing off and slipping away to secluded spots.
Among the builders, the foreman stood out—a charismatic, handsome man named Anthony, broad-shouldered and full of charm. All the girls, and even some women, melted at his compliments and jokes.
One day, Emily went to the store for groceries and ran into Anthony.
— Well, look at this beauty! — he said, surprised. — How have I not seen you before? Such a treasure in a backwater like this!
Emily blushed, and it was as if a fog lifted from her mind. This was real life, standing right in front of her with this handsome man.
— I haven’t been hiding, — she replied with a flirtatious smile. — I just have a family, children. No time for anything else…
— But how can you hide such beauty among diapers and dirty dishes?
All the way to the store and back, Emily talked nonstop, pouring out all the bitterness of her unfulfilled life. Anthony nodded understandingly, quickly realizing how easy this conquest would be. He found her very attractive and wasn’t opposed to a no-strings-attached fling with this love-starved woman. Such adventures thrilled him.
Soon, Emily lost her head completely. She began sneaking out of the house to meet her new lover, indifferent to the fact that everyone around her noticed, that her husband had figured it out and walked around silent and grim, or that her children, the eldest only ten, were left alone during her absences. All that mattered was that she was happy.
But the builders’ work came to an end, and the crew prepared to return to the city. On their last evening, Emily was frantic with dread.
— Tony, my love, how will I live without you?! — she cried, tears streaming down her face. — I’ll end it all. I won’t survive…
— Calm down, Emily. It’ll be okay. We can keep seeing each other in the city. You can visit me on weekends.
— And then go back to a husband I don’t love and children I’m tired of? No, I won’t live like that. Take me with you! I’d go to the ends of the earth, as long as you’re by my side!
The conversation ended unresolved.
The next day, the crew left. Emily was consumed by grief. She stopped caring for herself or her children, barely eating, lost in her pain. Her husband could no longer bear it. Despite everything, James still loved his wife.
— Why are you torturing yourself and us? Just go.
Without hesitation, Emily sprang to life. Why was she wasting away when she could follow her love? She quickly packed her things, changed, and rushed out of the house without a word. James and the children stood silently on the porch, watching her leave.
— Mama! — the youngest suddenly cried out piercingly.
Emily turned back instinctively.
— When will you come back?
— Never. I’ve had enough! Live however you want, — she snapped, hurrying to the bus stop without looking back.
That evening, James patiently comforted his crying children. A few days later, the poor father tried to explain that their mother hadn’t stopped loving them—she was just sick and had gone to get treatment. Only the youngest believed him, too young to understand. The eldest, Lucy, patted her father’s head and said with grown-up resolve.
— Don’t worry, Dad. I’m big now. I’ll manage the house and look after the little ones. They’ll help me, — she said, flashing a stern look at her crying brothers, who quickly nodded and stopped their tears.
And so it went. Lucy came home from school, took care of the house and her brothers, while a neighbor, Anna, the mother of the village schoolteacher, watched the younger ones during the day. The teacher, Sarah Gregory, often stopped by to help with meals, homework, or shopping.
Two years passed since Emily abandoned her family. Slowly, the children and James began to heal and forget her. Only the youngest occasionally asked.
— When will Mama get better?
Sarah Gregory started spending more time with the children. Childless herself, she grew deeply attached to the neighbor’s kids. She and James fed and tucked them in, then sat in the kitchen drinking tea, talking loudly and enjoying each other’s company. They understood each other effortlessly.
James began to smile and joke again, and the children were thrilled for their father, secretly hoping he and Miss Sarah would marry. They even clumsily tried to nudge them together.
One evening, James simply said to Sarah.
— Stay with us.
She joyfully agreed. James divorced Emily through the courts, married Sarah, and had Emily’s parental rights terminated. Sarah adopted all the children, and their family life became calm and steady—a true family filled with love.
Years passed. Lucy and all but the youngest brother had started their own families. Some moved to the city, others stayed in the village near their parents. The children now called Sarah Gregory “Mom.” Today, the whole family gathered to celebrate a major event: the youngest brother’s wedding. Tables were set up in the yard, music played loudly, and toasts were raised to the newlyweds’ health.
Suddenly, Lucy noticed a lone figure standing by the fence. She recognized Emily immediately and, trying not to draw attention, approached her.
— Hello, Emily, — she said quietly. — What are you doing here?
Aged, gaunt, and shabbily dressed, Emily smiled nervously.
— Hello, Lucy, my dear daughter. You recognized me. I’m so glad.
— Why are you here? There’s no place for you in our home. We have a complete family. We love our mom.
— Please, Lucy, don’t say that. I know I failed you, but God has already punished me, believe me…
— I don’t care. Please, don’t ruin our celebration, — Lucy turned sharply and rejoined the guests.
Emily lingered, watching the celebration where she had no place, then turned and slowly walked toward the bus stop.
— Emily! — a voice called from behind.
Turning, she saw James Michael.
— James, — Emily sank onto a bench and wept bitterly. — Forgive me, James.
— I forgave you long ago, Emily. I just want to know why you came.
They talked for a long time on that bench before Emily left.
The next day, after the wedding, James gathered the children for a family meeting.
— Please, hear me out without interrupting. Yesterday, I spoke with your mother, Emily. She told me about her life. As expected, nothing good came of it. Like a dragonfly, she flitted through her fate, achieving nothing. She married several times, but each time she was abandoned. She had no more children and is now completely alone, living in a small apartment on a meager disability pension. I’m telling you this plainly, as it is. Why? Because she needs help now. She’s been diagnosed with cancer and needs surgery, but she has no money and no one to turn to. I’ve said my piece. Don’t respond yet—just think it over. Listen to your hearts. Emily has one thing over all of you: she gave you life.
The children sat quietly, lost in thought. Only Lucy spoke up.
— All she did was give us life. You did everything else. We owe her nothing.
But no one supported her, and no one replied.
When a young woman and four young men entered the oncology ward where Emily lay, the doctor was making his rounds.
— Who are you people? — he asked sternly.
Emily pleaded weakly.
— Dr. Edward, please, let them stay. These are my children…
The doctor shrugged and, as he left, warned.
— Not too long. The patient is very weak.
Emily was a painful sight—skin and bones, pale with a feverish flush and burning eyes.
— My darlings, you came, — she wept. — Forgive me. I’ll never forgive myself.
Lucy sat by the bed and spoke softly.
— Don’t, Mom. You shouldn’t get upset. We’ve forgiven you.
The newly married youngest brother sat beside her too.
— Mom, don’t worry. Everything will be fine. We’ve paid for your surgery and rehabilitation. You’ll get better.
— That doesn’t matter, — Emily smiled through tears. — What matters is that you’ve forgiven me. Now I’m not afraid to die…
Emily’s surgery was successful, with no complications. She completed chemotherapy and rehabilitation, and her life was no longer in danger. She endured it all with strength and calm, supported by her children—her pride. Despite her betrayal, they had grown into kind, generous people. She didn’t deserve them, but their forgiveness came at a heavy price.
She had only herself to blame. While she dreamed of yachts and a glamorous life, the true beauty—of her husband’s and children’s souls—had passed her by, just like her life.
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