So, you know, Im sixty now and living on my own. I havent got any children or a husband, although at one time I was married. When I was twenty-five, I fell in love and got married.
But our marriage broke down because my husband cheated on me. He actually brought his mistress right into our flat! Of course, I couldnt put up with that, so I packed my things and moved back in with my parents. Just two months after we divorced, I found out I was pregnant.
Honestly, I didnt have any desire to reach out to my ex-husband. I never called him, never told him. I decided I would raise the child on my own. When my son was born, the doctors gave me heartbreaking news. Your child is very frail, and thats not all. Hes got an incurable illness. If he makes it to eleven or twelve, hell be very fortunate.
I didnt know what to do or where to turn. I nurtured my boy, fed him every day, and deep down, I couldnt shake that single thoughtthat my child wouldnt be here long.
He lived to fifteen, though. Remarkably. It happened that he and my dad passed away within a week of each other. Losing the two closest people to me almost broke me.
My dad left me his flatspacious, right in the centre of London. Ive spent years here, just me, and never had many men around. If Im honest, I did long for a child, but the fear that things might repeat made me keep my distance. When I turned forty-five, I bought myself a laptop so I could keep in touch with distant relatives and read the news.
Word got out that I was living on my own, and suddenly relatives were turning up in shifts. They brought gifts, souvenirs, all sorts. They always asked whether Id made a will, and if I said I hadnt, theyd lament about their financial troubles. Some even whispered about each other, trying to look better and worthier in my eyes. But truthfully, I know exactly who I want to leave my flat toa friends daughter, whos always helped me selflessly.
My familys only interested in the flat, really. Eventually, I stopped reaching out, but that didnt deter them. One day, my cousin rang and, in the most cheeky way, asked if I was still alive and who Id leave my flat to. I felt so insulted, I blocked every single one of them from calling or messaging me again.
