When I was nine months pregnant, I brought a homeless woman home and gave her food and clothes. But I didn’t know who she really was. When my husband saw her in our kitchen, he turned pale and threw us both out.
When I woke up, I felt a heaviness in my chest. And it wasn’t just my pregnancy – the tense, uncomfortable feeling hadn’t left our home. Next to me, Carter was already up, moving quickly and impatiently around the room.
‘Finally awake?’ – He asked, his voice cold and detached.
I sat up slowly. ‘I didn’t sleep well,’ I admitted.
‘Maybe if you hadn’t been lying around all day you’d be tired enough to fall asleep,’ he said.
I swallowed hard and put my hand on my stomach.
When I married Carter, I thought he was everything I wanted-smart, charming, and dependable. But as the years went by, he became colder and less patient.
Looking back, I realise he was always like that. I just didn’t notice it because I was blinded by love.
Once he had everything – my house and even a place to work when I went on maternity leave – he stopped pretending. He didn’t need it anymore.
‘Do you want breakfast?’ I asked.
Carter barely glanced at his phone.
‘Only if there’s something worthwhile,’ he muttered.
I walked slowly into the kitchen and started frying scrambled eggs.
This was my life, cooking for a man who didn’t appreciate me, living in a house that, legally, was no longer mine.
I was too trusting, too naive. I signed all the deeds to the house in his name, thinking it would be easier to manage the finances. I’d given up everything, believing that marriage was built on trust.
Behind me, Carter sighed loudly.
‘Did you burn the eggs again? You always overcook them,’ he said.
I kept my words to myself. No matter what I did, it was never enough.
‘You know what? Forget about it. I’ll just buy something on the way to work.’
I didn’t argue – there was no point.
He took the keys and left.
‘Did you set the eggs on fire again? You always overcook them,’ he muttered.
I remained silent. No matter what I did, it was never good enough.
‘You know what? Never mind. I’ll just pick something up on the way to work.’
I didn’t say anything back – useless.
He took the keys and walked out.
And that’s when I saw her.
A woman was pushing a trolley filled with old blankets and a few worn-out bags. On her lap she held a piece of cardboard that said ‘Homeless and Hungry’ in big letters.
I slowed my step.
She didn’t look like the usual image of a homeless person. Her hair was a mess, but still groomed. Her clothes weren’t torn, just a little ragged. But there was something unexpected in her tired eyes – dignity.
I didn’t know why I stopped, but I did. I turned round.
‘Do you need anything?’ I asked.
The woman looked up and gave me a small, almost amused smile.
‘Honey, if I start listing everything I need, we’ll be here all night.’
I couldn’t help but smile back.
‘Fair enough. But seriously… food? Water?’
‘I’ll be fine,’ she said. ‘I just… need some time. I need to get back on my feet.’
Something about the way she said it made me believe her. I crouched down next to her, ignoring the hard tarmac beneath me.
‘What happened?’ I asked.
‘Life happened,’ she sighed. ‘One day I was running a household. The next day I had no home at all. My son kicked me out – said I was too much of a burden.’
‘Your son?’ repeated I, surprised.
‘It’s a long story,’ she said. ‘But let’s just say… some people only like you when you’re useful to them.’
Her words hit me hard. I felt my chest grow tight. ‘I… I think I understand.’
She studied me with sharp blue eyes.
‘Husband?’ – She asked.
I laughed dryly.
‘Is it obvious?’
‘You walked out of the shop looking like you were carrying more than just groceries. Do you want to talk about it?’
I had to say no. I didn’t even know her. But something about her was…safe.
‘It’s not just a failed marriage,’ I admitted. ‘I don’t even know who I am now. I thought I married a man who loved me. And it turns out I married a man who just wanted to control me.’
‘And now you’re stuck,’ she said.
‘Exactly.’ I swallowed, staring at the crack in the pavement. ‘I don’t even have my own house anymore. I gave him everything. Turns out I trusted the wrong person.’
‘Yes, I understand,’ she said. ‘I’m Alice, by the way.’
‘Evelyn,’ I replied.
We sat in silence for a while, but we didn’t feel awkward.
‘Do you have somewhere to go?’ I asked.
Alice shook her head.
‘Then come with me,’ I said.
She looked at me carefully. ‘And your husband?’
I sighed, already realising the trouble I was getting myself into. ‘Don’t worry about him.’
After lunch, I helped Alice get settled. She took a long hot shower, and when she came out, wrapped in one of my dressing gowns, she looked like a completely different person.
Her face no longer looked haggard and tired. I smiled and handed her some clothes from my wardrobe.
‘They may be a little big, but at least they’re clean,’ I said.
After lunch, I helped Alice get comfortable. She took a long hot shower, and when she came out of it in one of my dressing gowns, she looked like a new person.
Her face no longer looked so tired and haggard. I smiled and handed her some clothes from my wardrobe.
‘They might be a little loose, but at least they’re clean,’ I said.
‘You know, you don’t have to do that,’ Alice said.
‘I want to,’ I replied.
She nodded and then looked at me thoughtfully.
‘When was the last time someone did something kind for you?’
Her question caught me off guard. I didn’t know what to answer.
Alice chuckled and shook her head. ‘A long time ago, huh?’
I let out a small chuckle. ‘Yeah.’
After she changed her clothes, we sat down at the kitchen table with mugs of tea. The house was unusually quiet. It was strange to have company.
For the first time in years, I didn’t feel alone in my own home. More than that, I felt like I had finally done something right.
Hours later, the front door slammed – Carter was home.
Even before he spoke, his presence filled the room. When he saw Alice, he stopped dead in his tracks.
‘What the hell?’ His gaze darted between me and her. ‘Who is it?’
Alice slowly looked up, and in that moment something in Carter’s face changed. His usual confidence shook.
‘Mum?!’
I stared at both of them in confusion.
Carter’s shock lasted only a second before his face contorted with anger. His disbelief quickly turned to rage.
‘That woman is just a homeless stranger!’ – he snapped, pointing at Alice as if she was nothing. ‘She’s not staying here!’
Alice crossed her arms and watched him carefully. ‘Is that how you think of me now?’
‘You’re not my mother,’ Carter replied. ‘You stopped being my mother the day you decided to leave.’
Alice let out a dry, humourless chuckle.
‘Oh, Carter. Is that the story you’re telling? That I left? Maybe because you left me?’
‘You left me!’ shouted Carter. ‘You were selfish! You put your dreams before me!’
Alice sighed, shaking her head. ‘That’s the real problem, isn’t it?’
A heavy silence filled the room, but she wasn’t done yet.
‘I wanted a career. I wanted to make my own money. I wanted to be more than just a wife to a man who expected me to serve him. And you hated that. Your father hated it. You both wanted a woman who would keep quiet and obey.’
‘Father is dead. And you…you were a disgrace! You refused to be a real mother,’ Carter snarled.
‘No,’ Alice said firmly. ‘I refused to raise a son who thinks he can control a woman.’
Carter turned to me.
‘Evelyn, what were you thinking? Bring her to my house?’ demanded Carter.
‘To our house,’ I corrected, my voice becoming harsh.
He laughed coldly.
‘Yours? No, darling. As soon as we got married, this house became mine. I pay the bills. I make the rules. Now get out, both of you.’
Carter was losing control of himself, and he knew it.
I reached into my pocket, pulled out my house key, and without saying a word, tossed it on the floor in front of him.
‘The house is yours,’ I said. ‘But you don’t have a family anymore.’
For the first time in a long time, I felt no fear. I felt nothing at all.
Without waiting for Carter to answer, I turned away, grabbed my coat, and slipped some money into my pocket.
We stepped out onto the empty pavement, the cold air stinging my skin. I had no plan, no home, no idea where to go next.
‘Where to now?’ I asked.
Alice threw me a knowing look and gestured for me to follow her around the corner.
I hesitated for a moment-but what else could I do?
A sleek black Mercedes was parked by the curb under the streetlight. Alice reached into her coat pocket, pressed a button, and the car’s headlights flashed in response.
I stopped in place, trying to comprehend what I was seeing.
‘Alice…you stole a car?’ I asked, stunned.
Alice let out a deep, hilarious laugh.
‘Oh, honey. I just needed you to believe me.’
I crossed my arms, eyeing the car warily.
‘I’m going to need a little more information before I get into a possibly stolen car.’
Alice smirked and opened the driver’s side door. ‘That’s mine.’
‘Yours?’ I asked, surprised.
‘Yes. Registered, insured and parked legally – if that helps you relax,’ she said. ‘So, are you coming or would you rather sleep on the bus bench tonight?’
She didn’t say anything more until we pulled onto the road and the hum of the engine filled the silence.
The city lights blurred past, casting shadows on the dashboard. I stared out the window, waiting. Finally, I turned to her.
‘You said…you were homeless.’
‘I was. For a while. But I’m back on my feet.’
‘How? A few minutes ago you had nothing. And now you’re driving a Mercedes?’
‘I pretended to be homeless. I was before. But now I have my own company. I’ve got my life back.’
‘What?’ I whispered, stunned.
Alice turned down a quiet street.
Alice drove down a quiet street lined with large, elegant houses. She stopped in front of a beautiful house with tall windows.
I stared at it in confusion. ‘Alice… whose house is this?’
She switched off the engine and unbuckled her seatbelt.
‘Mine,’ she answered simply.
I looked at her in shock. ‘Why did you do all that? Why go through such an elaborate test instead of just helping me?’
‘Because I saw my grandson’s future,’ Alice said. ‘I knew you were pregnant as soon as I saw you. And I had to be sure: if you were truly kind, you’d help a homeless woman. And if my son was still a monster, he would have shown his true colours.’
‘So now what?’ whispered I.
‘It doesn’t matter now,’ she said softly. ‘I’ll help you.’
Tears filled my eyes. For the first time, I was free. I was safe.
A few weeks passed, and I was still getting used to my new life – waking up in a bed that didn’t feel like a prison, drinking coffee without the constant weight of disapproval.
One afternoon the doorbell rang. Alice and I exchanged glances. We already knew who it was before I even picked up the knob.
Carter. He looked terrible.
‘I was wrong,’ he said, shifting awkwardly. ‘I… I realise that now. I want to make it right.’
‘Fix it?’ repeated Alice, unimpressed.
Carter lowered his head bashfully.
‘I know I messed up. I know I hurt you both. But I don’t want to be that person anymore.’
I studied him closely. I was no longer the man I used to be.
‘You want to make things right? Start with therapy. And maybe…actually help the homeless instead of throwing them out on the streets.’
‘I’ll do that. For our child’s sake.’
Maybe he’ll change. Or maybe he won’t. But either way, my future was finally mine.
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