Maternity leave should have been a joyful time for bonding with my newborn, but my coworker Emily turned it into a nightmare. Her audacity tested my patience and made me determined to protect my family.
I’m Katie, and life has been hectic lately. Moving in with my husband, Mark, and preparing for our first baby kept us busy. Despite the overwhelming changes, Mark has been my steady support.
Throughout this time, my coworker Emily was a constant presence. I used to give her rides to work, which continued after my move with Mark. However, as my maternity leave approached, she panicked about transportation, as she couldn’t drive and had no one else to help.
“Please, Katie, can’t you help me?” she begged, her desperation clear. I explained that taking a newborn out at 6 a.m. was impractical, and she suggested that Mark could drive her. I knew that wouldn’t work given our schedules, and I didn’t want to burden him.
Emily’s persistent pleas and guilt-trips made it challenging, but I stood firm. On the first morning of my leave, Emily showed up at 5:45 a.m. looking desperate. I interrupted her, asserting it wasn’t fair to ask Mark for help. She stormed off, leaving me feeling guilty but relieved.
Days later, I woke up to find our car missing. To my shock, it returned with Emily inside. She had taken our spare key. Mark told her she had crossed a line and was no longer welcome. This incident strengthened our family bond, and we felt ready to face whatever life threw at us.