NEVER TOOK WHAT WASNT MINE
Back in her school days, Martha regarded Lucy with a mix of disdain and envy. She looked down on Lucy because her parents were hopeless, heavy drinkers, scraping by on odd jobs and barely making ends meet. Lucy was always hungry, dressed in hand-me-downs, and carried a certain weariness about her. Her father sometimes struck hersometimes for drinking too little, sometimes for drinking too much, sometimes for no reason at all. Lucys mother never stepped in, too frightened herself of her husbands temper. Only Lucys grandmother shone as a bright spot in her life. Once a month, out of her modest pension, Grandma would give her beloved granddaughter a little pocket money as a reward for good behaviour. But Lucy knew even if shed misbehaved, her grandmother would pretend not to notice and the little wages would come regardlessfive pounds! That was the happiest day of the month for Lucy. She would run straight to the nearest shop, buy ice creamfor both herself and Grandmaa bar of halva, and a few sweets.
Every month Lucy vowed to make her treats last, but within two days all the goodies had vanished. Then her dear grandmother would fetch her own ice cream from the freezer and say casually, Here, darling, have this onemy throat is a bit sore.
How odd, Lucy thought to herself, Grandmas throat always starts aching the day the sweets run out She secretly relied on that extra helping of Grandmas ice cream.
Marthas life was the complete opposite. Her home was always comfortable and well stocked. Her parents had good jobs and she was the apple of their eye. Martha was always dressed in the latest fashion, and sometimes the other girls in her class would borrow her things. She wanted for nothing, always well-fed, well clothed, and well shod.
But Martha was quietly jealous of Lucys enchanting beauty, her easy charm, and her gift for getting along with anyone. Even so, Martha felt it beneath her to so much as speak to Lucy. When their paths crossed, Martha would shoot Lucy a look so cold it was like a splash of icy water. Once, in front of everyone, Martha called out, Youre pathetic! Lucy ran home in tears and told her grandmother everything. Grandma sat Lucy down, stroked her hair and said, Dont cry, sweetheart. Tomorrow, say to her, Youre quite rightI am with God! Lucy instantly felt better.
Martha had her own good looks, to be sure, but her beauty always seemed chilly and distant.
There was a boy in their class that all the girls adoredMaxwell. He was a bit of a joker, never troubled by a failing mark or a telling-off for bad behaviour. Genuine joy and easy optimism radiated from him. Teachers, even as they covered his school record with red marks for poor grades and sent him out for mischief, couldnt help but like him.
In their later school years, Maxwell began walking Martha home. In the mornings, hed wait for her outside the school gates so they could walk in together, prompting the other classmates to tease, Here come the bride and groom! Even the teachers remarked on the budding romance between Maxwell and Martha.
The end of school sounded with the last bell. The leavers ball passeda flurry of excitement and goodbyes. The students scattered to the four winds.
Martha and Maxwell got married. They had a hurried weddinglove had left its mark, impossible to hide, not even by Marthas splendid layered dress. Five months later, Martha brought a daughter, Sophie, into the world.
Lucy, on finishing school, had no choice but to work. Her grandmother had passed away. Her parents now expected her to chip in, and although there had been plenty of suitors for her hand, none made her heart truly sing. Lucy wasnt keen to rush marriage either, perhaps embarrassed by her parents drinking.
Ten years slip by.
Now, outside the addiction clinic, two pairs wait. Lucy with her mother, and Maxwell with Martha.
Lucy recognises Maxwell at once. Hes matured into a fine-looking man. Martha, however, is a shadow of her former selfthin, hands trembling, lifeless eyeslooking years beyond her twenty-eight. Maxwell looks apologetically at Lucy.
Hello, classmate, he says, clearly wishing she hadnt witnessed his familys troubles.
Hi, Maxwell. I can see things are rough. Has Martha been like this long? Lucy asks, reading the situation quickly.
A good while, Maxwell admits, blushing.
A woman who drinks is a disasterI know too well from my mum. My dad drank himself to an early grave, Lucy sympathises, for both of them.
After their visit to the clinic, Maxwell and Lucy exchange numbersjust in case. Its easier to face trouble together. Maxwell starts popping round to see Lucy under the pretense that her bitter experience might offer advice.
Lucy gladly shares what shes learned: how to cope with drinking relatives, which treatments work, and what one must never do. She always suspected that more men drown in drink than in the sea.
It comes out that Maxwell and little Sophie have been living alone for a whileMarthas now back with her parents. Maxwell has shielded his daughter from her unpredictable mother. The final straw had been Maxwell coming home from work to find Martha drunk on the floor as three-year-old Sophie teetered on the edge of the fifth-floor window, ready to fall. Hed had enoughrealising you never truly know whats in anothers heart. Worst of all, Martha refused help, certain she could stop drinking anytime. She was determined to slide deeper into the abyss.
The marriage crumbled.
Some time later, Maxwell invited Lucy out to dinner at a local restaurant. There, he confessed he had loved her since school but was afraid of rejection; then Marthas unexpected pregnancy had whirled everything into motion. Now, looking at their chance meeting in the clinic, he sensed fate at work. Talking with Lucy felt like honey to his soul.
Maxwell proposed. He finally found the key to Lucys heart. Shed always liked him, in truth, but had never dreamed of stepping between him and Martha. But nowMaxwell was free, in love, and there were no obstacles. At last, arms were open to receive her love.
Maxwell and Lucy quietly married, and she moved in. At first, Sophie watched her warily, worried her fathers love would now be divided. But Lucy surrounded her with such warmth and care that the little girl started calling her ‘Mum.’ Two years later, Sophie had a little sister, Molly.
One day, the phone rang in Maxwell and Lucys home. Lucy answered the door to find… Martha. By her voice, Lucy recognised herMartha reeked of alcohol, her appearance telling its own bitter tale.
You snake, you stole my husband and daughter! Martha hissed. No wonder Ive hated you all my life!
Lucys face didnt flinch. She stood, self-assured, radiant, and calm.
Ive never taken what wasnt mine. You gave up your family of your own will, never even understanding it. I havent once spoken ill of you. Honestly, Martha, I feel sorry for you
With that, Lucy firmly closed the door on her unwelcome guest.
