My son, please take care of your sick sister. You must not abandon her!” whispered Mum.

**Diary Entry**

Son, please look after your sick sister. Dont abandon her! Mum whispered, her voice trembling.

Listen, son she breathed, barely audible. Every word was agony. The illness had ravaged her without mercy. She lay in bed, frail as a shadow, nearly transparent. Thomas hardly recognised her. Once strong and full of life, now

Thomas, promise me youll take care of Emily Shes delicate. Different, but shes ours. Mum squeezed his hand with surprising strength. Where did she find such resolve?

Thomas grimaced, stealing a glance at his elder sister, Emily, who sat in the corner of their small flat in Manchester, playing with dolls. Over forty, yet still lost in childish games, humming tunelessly. She smiled as if oblivious to their mothers fading breath.

Thomas had built a comfortable lifea construction firm, a flashy Range Rover, a big house near the Mersey. But there was no place for Emily there. His children were frightened of her, and his wife, Margaret, called her mad. Yet Emily was harmless, sweet, innocent.

Its just Ive got a family now, and Emily shes he stammered, trying to free his hand from Mums grip.

Son, your fathers house is yours. For Emily, Ive left a three-bedroom flat. Its all legal.

How?! Thomas and Margaret exchanged stunned looks, greed flickering in their eyes.

I cared for old Mrs. Higgins brought her meals, medicines. She was kind. Never thought shed leave me the flat. Its in Emilys name, so shed always have shelter. But youyou must watch over her. Later, itll go to your children. Who knows how long shell live

That night, Mum passed.

Emily didnt seem to grasp she was orphaned. Thomas took her in at once and began renovating the flat.

Why does Emily need so much space? Keep her here. Well rent it out.

At first, Margaret didnt protest. Emily was no troublejust played quietly all day. But her oddities unnerved Margaret. Shes calm today, but what if?

Just bear with it, Thomas pleaded. Yet six months later, with a solicitor friends help, he transferred both the family home and Emilys flat into his name. He tricked her into signing papers without explanation.

Then the nightmare began.

While Thomas was at work, Margaret tormented Emilyshouting, locking her in rooms, sometimes feeding her cat food. Hed find her crying, terrified. One day, Margaret struck her. Emily, frightened, wet herself.

Not just daft, but pissing yourself? Out of my house!

She threw Emilys things into a bag and shoved her out.

Wheres Emily? Thomas asked that evening, settling into bed.

Gone! Margaret snapped. Pissed herself, then bolted when I opened the door. Im not chasing after some lunatic!

Thomas stayed silent. Then, flatly: Fine, if shes gone He turned on the telly. Found tenants, by the way.

The night stretched long. Guilt gnawed at him. Where was she? Helpless as a child. By dawn, he finally sleptonly to dream of Mum.

I begged you, son she whispered from the coffin, shaking a bony finger.

The dream haunted him for weeks. He couldnt bear it. Two months later, he called his godmother, Anne.

So, Thomas, conscience biting? she said coldly. Good thing I visited your mums grave. Found Emily terrifiedtook her in. Ill keep her. Dont want her flat. You live with your shame!

God, Anne he muttered, hanging up. Relief washed over himEmily was safe.

But she died two months later, the same illness as Mum. Thomas didnt attend the funeraltoo busy.

Ten years passed. Now Thomas lay ill, wracked with pain and regret. Margaret had left him for another man. His children rarely visited, grimacing: You smell like death

One day, Margaret marched in with papers.

Sign these. We need to settle the firm.

He did. Too late, he realisedit was the house deed. Then the company. Gone. Memories of Mum and Emily flooded back. Tears rolled down his cheeks.

Forgive me he whispered into the emptiness swallowing him whole.