The Woman Who Chose Her Daughter

On a Mother's Day trip to Tennessee, Margaret insists on bringing a chipped blue mug. Claire is pregnant and her husband's side of the bed is empty.

Chipped Mug

The first thing Margaret packed for the cabin was a chipped blue mug.

It was not valuable. The handle had been glued back on twice, and a thin brown line ran through its center from years of coffee. Still, she wrapped it carefully in a dish towel and placed it between two sweaters in her overnight bag.

“You know the cabin has cups,” Claire said.

Margaret zipped the bag and looked up. “Not this cup.”

Outside, rain tapped gently against the kitchen window. The house smelled of coffee, toast, and the lemon cleaner Claire’s mother used on every surface. On the counter sat three grocery bags filled with food for their Mother’s Day weekend in Tennessee.

Claire stood near the sink with one hand resting on her pregnant belly. She had hardly slept. Her husband’s side of the bed had been empty for weeks, but she still woke at night expecting to hear his breathing.

📖 Start reading The Woman Who Chose Her Daughter free

Quick answers about The Woman Who Chose Her Daughter

What is The Woman Who Chose Her Daughter about?

On a Mother's Day trip to Tennessee, Margaret insists on bringing a chipped blue mug. Claire is pregnant and her husband's side of the bed is empty.

Is The Woman Who Chose Her Daughter free to read?

Yes. Every story on RapidTale is free to read in the browser, with no sign-up and nothing to install.

How long does it take to read?

This story runs 1 chapter — most readers finish in one sitting, and you can stop and return to any chapter using the contents list.

Who wrote it?

Nimra Khan — original fiction published on RapidTale.