Mum, its usyour boys Mum She looked at them.
Emma and Charles had struggled their entire lives. Emmas hope for happiness and comfort had long since faded. Once, when she was young and in love, she imagined a bright future for them both. But life was nothing like shed dreamed. Charles worked tirelessly for very little pay. To make matters more difficult, Emma fell pregnant, and the children came one after anotherthree boys in quick succession. Emma had been out of work for years. There was no way her husbands modest wage would stretch far enough. The children needed new shoes and jackets every season as they grew.
Every last pound went on food. Then came bills, rent, and all the rest. After twelve years of living like this, the weight of it settled over the whole family. Charles started drinking. While he brought home his wages, he stumbled back every night reeking of beer. Emmas heart slowly closed to him. One night, Charles returned, already drunk, clutching a bottle of gin. Emma finally snapped, snatched the bottle from him, and took a long drink herself. That was the night she began drinking too.
Soon, Emma realised that a heavy warmth seemed to lift her problems away. She even found herself laughing sometimes. From that day, she waited almost every evening for Charles to return with more drink. They began to drink together, night after night.
She forgot her boys. People in the village whispered about how gin changed a person. Not much later, the boys started going door to door, asking for scraps of food. Eventually, a neighbour couldnt take it anymore and told her, Emma, youd do better to let them go to care than let them starve at home. How long can you keep drinking and ignore your sons?
Emma remembered those words well. They haunted her at night. Life would be easier if the boys werent always underfoot. Before long, Emma and Charles gave up caring for their sons. The boys ended up in a childrens home. They cried and waited for their parents, but no one came. Emma and Charles hardly gave them a thought.
Years went by. One by one, the boys turned eighteen and left the home. They were given small council flatsa room of their own at last. Each found a job. The brothers always looked out for each other. They never spoke about their parents, but deep down, they still wished to see them, to know why theyd been left behind.
One day, they gathered and drove together to their childhood house. On the way, they saw their mother, struggling wearily, trying to reach the door. She walked right past them, not seeming to know her own sons.
Mum, its usyour boys Mum
She looked at them with empty eyes. Then, slowly, she recognised them.
She burst into tears, begging for forgiveness. But how could she be forgiven? The brothers stood there, lost for words. Then, they realised that no matter what had happened, she was still their mother. In that moment, they forgave her.
