Gertrude Coppard was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She came from a well-to-do family that valued education and refinement above all else. Growing up, she was surrounded by books, art, and intellectual conversations.But you know how life likes to throw curveballs? Well, Gertrude's came in the form of a Christmas party. She probably thought she was just going for some eggnog and small talk, but fate had other plans.Walter was like a force of nature. He had this rough-and-tumble charm that just swept Gertrude off her feet. Picture a guy with calloused hands and a twinkle in his eye, laughing loud enough to shake the rafters. Gertrude was like a moth drawn to a flame.Their romance was like something out of a storybook. It was all stolen glances and butterflies in the stomach. Before Gertrude knew what hit her, she was walking down the aisle. She thought she'd found her happily ever after, her knight in shining armor.Once the honeymoon phase wore off, it was like someone had lifted a veil from Gertrude's eyes. That charming, lively man she'd fallen for? Turns out he had a dark side. Walter started coming home stinking of booze, his pockets turned inside out from spending their money at the pub.It was like watching a beautiful painting slowly fade and crack. Gertrude felt like she was drowning in a sea of disappointment.Their arguments became as regular as clockwork, each one leaving Gertrude feeling more drained than the last. It was always the same old song and dance - Walter's drinking, their money troubles, his lack of ambition. Gertrude would beg and plead with him to change, to be the man she thought she'd married. But it was like trying to nail jelly to a wall.And the mining community? It was no picnic for Gertrude. She felt like a peacock in a chicken coop, completely out of place. The neighbors might as well have been speaking a different language. Gertrude longed for the intellectual conversations and refined company she'd left behind.Just when Gertrude thought things couldn't get any worse, she uncovered a lie that was like a punch to the gut. Walter had told her they owned their house, painting this picture of stability and success. But it was all smoke and mirrors. The truth came out - they were just renting, living on borrowed time in a home that wasn't truly theirs.As their marriage fell apart piece by piece, Gertrude found herself trapped in a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. And then, the cherry on top of this disaster sundae - she found out she was pregnant. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place. This tiny life growing inside her tied her to Walter in a way she couldn't escape.Gertrude's days became a blur of regret and resentment. She'd look at Walter passed out on the couch, snoring away without a care in the world. This was the man she once thought was her soulmate, now nothing more than a constant reminder of her biggest mistake.As she cradled her growing belly, Gertrude couldn't help but wonder what kind of life she could give this child. The dreams she'd once had of a happy family seemed as far away as the stars.The vibrant, hopeful Gertrude was fading away, replaced by a woman hardened by disappointment and trapped by circumstance. The future that had once seemed so bright now loomed dark and uncertain.As the days wore on, Gertrude found herself withdrawing more and more. She'd spend hours lost in thought, wondering how she'd ended up here. And as her due date approached, a new worry started to gnaw at her. What if this baby, this innocent little life, became the only thing holding her and Walter together? The thought of staying in this loveless marriage for the sake of a child made her feel like she was suffocating.