My Ex-husband Returned 10 Years After Leaving, but Not for the Reason I Expected

My Ex-husband Returned 10 Years After Leaving, but Not for the Reason I Expected

When my ex-husband, Josh, showed up on my doorstep after disappearing for 10 years, I had no idea why he’d returned. What could he possibly want now, after abandoning me and our daughter, Chloe?

Looking at Josh, I didn’t recognize the man I’d once fallen in love with. Time had aged him, and guilt was written all over his face. At that point, I had every right to slam the door in his face, but I didn’t do it.

I didn’t do it for Chloe’s sake. I knew she needed her dad in her life.

A girl sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

A girl sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

Being a single mom isn’t easy, but raising my daughter, Chloe, has been the most rewarding challenge of my life.

For 10 years, it’s just been the two of us. There were moments I struggled, but every time Chloe smiled or reached a milestone, I knew it was all worth it.

She’s my pride, my strength, and my reason to keep going.

But things weren’t always this way.

Years ago, I was married to Josh, a man I once thought would be my forever.

A couple showing their rings | Source: Pexels

A couple showing their rings | Source: Pexels

We met through a mutual friend, and I was immediately drawn to his charm and wit. Our friendship turned into love almost effortlessly.

Back then, I noticed a few things about Josh that I chose to ignore.

For one, he was always cautious about money. I remember how he hesitated before agreeing to splurge on a nice dinner or how he’d suggest I not buy something because it seemed “too expensive,” even when it wasn’t. I brushed it off as him being practical.

In hindsight, those were red flags I should have paid attention to.

A close-up shot of a woman's eyes | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a woman’s eyes | Source: Midjourney

When Josh proposed, I didn’t think twice. We were in love, and at that time, both of us were working stable jobs.

We got married in an intimate ceremony, and it was just perfect.

But a few months into our marriage, cracks began to show. Josh’s frugality became more pronounced.

He’d question every purchase, from groceries to basic household items.

A man holding money | Source: Pexels

A man holding money | Source: Pexels

“Do we really need this?” he’d ask, even when the answer was obvious.

It wasn’t long before I found myself managing most of our expenses, which led to tension. So, one evening, I decided to address it.

“Josh,” I said gently, “why am I covering most of the bills lately? We’re supposed to be a team.”

He sighed and apologized.

“I love you, Lauren, and I promise I’ll step up. I just want to make sure we’re being responsible.”

His words reassured me, but looking back, I realize they were just that. Words.

A woman standing near a window | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing near a window | Source: Midjourney

When I became pregnant, Josh surprised me. He seemed genuinely excited and eager to prepare for the baby’s arrival.

He bought furniture for the nursery, attended prenatal classes with me, and even treated me to a spa day. For a while, I believed this was the real Josh.

After Chloe was born, his enthusiasm continued. He doted on her, buying toys and clothes and making sure we had what we needed.

Back then, I felt super grateful. I thought we’d finally found our groove as a family.

A couple holding hands | Source: Midjourney

A couple holding hands | Source: Midjourney

But as time went on, the old Josh resurfaced. He began complaining about the cost of diapers and formula, grumbling that we were spending too much on Chloe.

When I mentioned we needed a new car seat because Chloe had outgrown hers, he snapped, “Do you know how much those things cost?”

Arguments about money became a regular occurrence. He was struggling at work, but he wouldn’t talk to me about it.

Instead, he bottled everything up, growing distant and irritable.

A stressed man | Source: Pexels

A stressed man | Source: Pexels

Then came the evening that changed everything.

I’d just returned from work when I found a note on the kitchen table.

I can’t do this anymore. I’m sorry.

Next to it were divorce papers, already signed. Josh had left without saying anything. No explanation. No goodbye.

I was left to pick up the pieces for myself and our two-year-old daughter, Chloe. At the time, I thought I’d never recover.

The early days after Josh left were full of tears.

A woman crying | Source: Pexels

A woman crying | Source: Pexels

I couldn’t understand how someone could walk away from their family, especially their own child. I tried calling him, but his number was disconnected. I even reached out to his friends, but none of them had heard from him.

For a long time, I questioned everything. Was he with someone else? Or was the pressure of being a father too much for him?

But Chloe didn’t leave me much time to dwell on my pain. She needed me, and I had to be strong for her.

A little girl | Source: Pexels

A little girl | Source: Pexels

I took on a second job to make ends meet, often skipping meals or wearing the same old clothes so I could provide everything she needed.

As the years passed, Chloe and I built a close bond. I was her everything. Her mom, her dad, her protector, and her biggest cheerleader.

But explaining Josh’s absence was never easy.

When Chloe was younger, I’d tell her, “Daddy had to leave because he was going through things I couldn’t understand.”

A woman braiding her daughter's hair | Source: Pexels

A woman braiding her daughter’s hair | Source: Pexels

As she got older, I explained more, though I never badmouthed him.

“It wasn’t your fault, and it wasn’t mine,” I told her. “Sometimes adults make choices they regret.”

However, when Chloe turned 12, she started asking harder questions.

“Do you think he regrets it, Mom?” she asked one evening as we sat together on the couch.

“I don’t know, sweetie,” I replied. “But I do know that his choices don’t define you or me.”

“I’m glad I have you,” she said quietly.

“And I’m glad I have you, too,” I said and smiled.

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

At that point, I thought we’d moved past the pain Josh had caused. I thought we were finally at peace, unaware that the past would literally come knocking at my door.

It happened on a quiet Saturday afternoon.

Chloe was at a friend’s house, and I was finally catching up on some much-needed cleaning when the doorbell rang.

I expected it to be a package or maybe a neighbor. But when I opened the door, I froze.

It was Josh.

A man standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney

A man standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney

He looked different.

He was thinner and older, and his once vibrant eyes looked so dull.

“Hi, Lauren,” he said in a trembling voice.

I stared at him in shock. I wanted to slam the door in his face, scream at him for what he’d done, and demand answers.

But instead, I asked, “What are you doing here?”

He exhaled deeply.

“I, uh… Can I come in? I need to talk to you.”

A man talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

Against my better judgment, I stepped aside and let him in. Not because I wanted to, but because I couldn’t ignore the possibility that Chloe deserved answers, even if I didn’t want to hear them myself.

Chloe came home about an hour later.

She walked into the living room, spotted Josh, and froze mid-step. Then, her gaze shifted to me as she searched for an explanation.

“Is that… is that Dad?” she asked.

I’d shown Chloe photos of him, and he looked way older than the image of him she had built in her mind.

“Yes,” I nodded. “That’s your father.”

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

“Hi, Chloe,” Josh said as he stood up awkwardly.

For a long moment, there was silence. Then Chloe, always so composed, asked the most important question.

“Why are you here?”

Josh’s shoulders slumped, and he lowered himself into a chair.

“Because I made a mistake, Chloe,” he whispered. “I left when I shouldn’t have. And now I’m here to make things right.”

“And how do I know you won’t leave again?” Chloe asked.

Josh looked like he’d seen a ghost. He started coughing before he could answer.

“You don’t,” he finally replied. “But I’ll spend every moment I have proving to you that I won’t.”

A tired man | Source: Midjourney

A tired man | Source: Midjourney

I knew I couldn’t trust Josh, but I decided to give him a chance for my daughter’s sake.

“You can stay for dinner,” I said finally. “But this doesn’t mean anything. We’re taking this one step at a time.”

Josh nodded gratefully, clearing his throat. “Thank you, Lauren. I, uh, I promise, I just want to reconnect with Chloe.”

A man looking at his ex-wife | Source: Midjourney

A man looking at his ex-wife | Source: Midjourney

That night, I lay awake, grappling with the decision to let him back into our lives. I told myself I was doing it for Chloe, but a part of me knew I needed answers, too.

Who was this man now, and why had he really come back? He looked so different. So weak. So fragile.

A few weeks after his return, things were still tense. He visited daily and bonded with Chloe while helping her with homework. They even cooked dinner together sometimes.

I noticed she was beginning to warm up to him, though her guard was still up.

A girl looking away from her father | Source: Midjourney

A girl looking away from her father | Source: Midjourney

One evening, after they had finished a school project, Chloe turned to me with a question. “Mom, do you think Dad will disappear again?”

Honestly, I didn’t have an answer.

“I don’t know, sweetheart. But I promise, no matter what happens, I’ll be here.”

That’s when my gaze landed on Josh who’d overheard the conversation. He looked devastated but didn’t say anything.

Later that night, I confronted him before he left.

“What are you really doing here, Josh?” I asked. “Why now, after all this time?”

A woman talking to her ex-husband | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her ex-husband | Source: Midjourney

His face clouded with guilt, but he deflected.

“I just… I saw her picture in the paper when she won the Academic Excellence Award. It hit me how much I’ve missed, Lauren.”

“I don’t believe it. You’re not telling me everything,” I pressed. “There’s more, isn’t there?”

Josh didn’t answer, but his health was already raising more questions than he could dodge.

I’d noticed him cough several times ever since he’d returned to our lives, and it hadn’t gotten any better. He also had this fatigue that didn’t seem to improve.

A worried man | Source: Midjourney

A worried man | Source: Midjourney

Whenever I asked him about it, he just said he was “exhausted from traveling,” but I wasn’t convinced.

And then came the evening his secret came to light.

Josh was helping Chloe with her homework in the living room when I heard a loud thud. I rushed in to find him collapsed on the floor.

“What happened to him, Mom?” Chloe asked, crying.

“Josh?” I shouted, trying to shake him awake. “Josh? What happened?”

He didn’t respond and was trying hard to catch his breath. I knew we needed help, so I immediately called an ambulance and rushed him to the hospital.

I didn’t even have time to process what was happening before a doctor approached me.

A doctor | Source: Pexels

A doctor | Source: Pexels

“We’ve stabilized him,” he said. “But he needs to stay overnight for observation.”

My knees wobbled as I nodded.

I was led into the room where Josh lay, pale and fragile, hooked up to machines that beeped softly in the background.

When he saw me, he weakly motioned for me to come closer.

“I have to tell you something,” he whispered.

“What is it, Josh?” I asked as I sat beside him. I gripped the chair so tightly my knuckles turned white.

“I have cancer, Lauren. Late-stage. The doctors say I don’t have much time.”

I was unable to comprehend his words.

“Cancer?” I repeated. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

A woman talking to her ex-husband | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her ex-husband | Source: Midjourney

“I didn’t want you and Chloe to think I came back because I needed something,” he said. “I didn’t want to burden you more than I already have.”

“You… you left us, Josh,” I managed to speak, staring into his eyes. “You left me to raise Chloe alone, and now you’re back because you’re dying? Do you have any idea what we’ve been through?”

He winced at my words but didn’t look away.

A man in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

A man in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

“I know I hurt you, Lauren,” he whispered. “But back then, I thought leaving was the right thing to do. I felt like a failure. As a husband. As a father… I couldn’t provide for you the way you deserved. My anxiety convinced me that you were better off without me. After all, our arguments never seemed to end.”

An angry man | Source: Pexels

An angry man | Source: Pexels

“Better off?” I snapped as tears streamed down my cheeks. “Chloe grew up wondering why her dad didn’t want her. She deserved so much better than this, Josh! We could’ve worked everything out. We could’ve found a solution.”

“I know,” he said, his voice breaking. “I wanted to come back so many times, but I was ashamed. Every time I thought about returning, I’d convince myself it was too late. And then… this illness forced me to confront the truth. I couldn’t leave this world without making things right with Chloe.”

A man lying in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

A man lying in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

I didn’t know what to say after that. We stayed silent for a few minutes as I processed my feelings. I wanted to scream at him, but I also felt like crying for him.

“What am I supposed to tell Chloe now?” I finally asked. “How am I supposed to help her through this?”

“Tell her I came back because I love her,” he cried. “Tell her I want to be here for her, for however much time I have left.”

That evening, I sat down with Chloe and gently explained what was happening.

A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney

“So, he’s going to leave us again?” she asked, looking at me with wide eyes.

“No, honey. Not like before,” I said, pulling her into a hug. “This time, he’s here to stay for as long as he can.”

Chloe was hurt, confused, and angry all at once.

“Why did he have to wait until now? Why couldn’t he come back when I was little?”

“I don’t know, sweetie. But I think… I think he was scared. People don’t always make the right choices, even when they mean well.”

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

My little girl was angry, but she didn’t let it control her decision. She understood her father was in a difficult position, so she agreed to forgive him.

She told me she wanted to spend what time they had left together.

In the weeks following his diagnosis, Josh made every effort to bond with Chloe. He played board games with her, cheered her on at her soccer matches, and even helped her bake cookies for a school fundraiser.

One Saturday afternoon, Chloe found Josh writing at the dining table.

“What are you doing, Dad?” she asked curiously.

A man writing a letter | Source: Pexels

A man writing a letter | Source: Pexels

“I’m writing letters for you,” he smiled. “For all the big moments in your life. Your graduation, your wedding, or just a day when you need a reminder of how much I love you.”

“But you don’t need to leave me notes,” Chloe said as she sat beside him. “I just want you to stay.”

Those words broke my heart.

A close-up shot of a woman crying | Source: Pexels

A close-up shot of a woman crying | Source: Pexels

Unfortunately, Josh passed away a few months later.

He was happy knowing he was surrounded by the two most important people in his life during the last moments of his life.

“I love you more than you’ll ever know,” he’d said a few minutes before he left us.

A close-up shot of a coffin | Source: Pexels

A close-up shot of a coffin | Source: Pexels

After his death, Chloe clung to the letters he left behind, often reading them aloud.

One evening, she turned to me and said, “I know he wasn’t perfect, but he loved me in the end. That’s what I’ll hold on to.”

I smiled through my tears and pulled her into a hug.

I felt incredibly proud of the compassion and resilience Chloe had inherited. Moreover, I was amazed at how she’d forgiven her father and only wanted to remember how kind and caring he was.

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

As for me, I’ve also forgiven my ex-husband, and it has given me the peace to move forward in my life. I’m grateful fate gave me a chance to answer the questions that had been worrying me for ten years.

I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I’m relieved knowing my past will never haunt me again.

If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: My husband always left for work in his shiny SUV, but then I saw him switching to a rusty old car halfway through the day. I couldn’t shake the feeling something was off, so I followed him. But I wasn’t prepared for where he went.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

Ouvi meu marido se gabando de sua esposa “feia” – sua vingança foi pior do que ele poderia imaginar

Quando Sarah chega em casa das tarefas habituais com os filhos, a última coisa que ela espera é ouvir o marido despejando seus verdadeiros sentimentos sobre ela — que ela é apenas um meio para um fim na vida dele. Mas Sarah não vai deixar Ethan escapar impune de seu comportamento insensível. Em vez disso, ela decide lhe dar uma lição.

Dizem que o casamento é construído com amor, confiança e respeito. Eu achava que tinha todos os três com Ethan. Por sete anos, nós dividimos uma casa, dois filhos e o que eu achava que era uma vida boa.

Um casal sorridente | Fonte: Midjourney

Um casal sorridente | Fonte: Midjourney

Claro, havia os momentos difíceis que apareciam de vez em quando. Mas, honestamente, que casamento não tem esses? Nós sempre encontrávamos o caminho de volta um para o outro. Ou assim eu pensava.

Então, aconteceu a semana passada.

Começou como qualquer outro dia. Peguei as crianças, equilibrando sua energia ilimitada com o caos de mochilas escolares e embalagens de lanche. Quando chegamos em casa, mandei-as para cima para brincar e entrei para ter um momento de paz antes de começar a preparação do jantar.

Duas crianças em seus uniformes escolares | Fonte: Midjourney

Duas crianças em seus uniformes escolares | Fonte: Midjourney

Foi quando eu ouvi. A voz de Ethan, clara como o dia, saindo da sala de estar.

No começo, não pensei muito nisso. Ele tinha alguns colegas de trabalho, então imaginei que estivessem apenas conversando. Mas, conforme me aproximei, peguei um trecho da conversa dele.

“Tirem uma página do meu livro, rapazes”, disse Ethan, seu tom transbordando confiança. “Eu descobri tudo. Levei a esposa feia para o trabalho doméstico e para criar as crianças, e levo as bonitas para as férias. Eu sei o que estou fazendo!”

Um homem sentado em um sofá e segurando uma lata | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem sentado em um sofá e segurando uma lata | Fonte: Midjourney

Eu congelei.

Minha respiração ficou presa, e senti a sacola de compras escorregar da minha mão. Meu coração batia forte, e o sangue corria para meus ouvidos enquanto meu marido continuava falando, alheio à minha presença.

“Quer dizer, vamos lá. Sarah nem percebe. Ela acha que eu sou algum tipo de santo. Enquanto isso, eu tenho a casa, o carro e tudo entregue a mim em uma bandeja de prata. E a melhor parte? Ela está feliz em manter tudo funcionando enquanto eu me divirto.”

Uma mulher chocada | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher chocada | Fonte: Midjourney

Eu me senti mal.

Meu marido, o homem em quem eu confiava minha vida, estava se gabando de como estava me usando.

Para seus amigos.

Agarrei-me ao corrimão da escada, lutando para ficar de pé.

Uma mulher parada perto de uma escada | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher parada perto de uma escada | Fonte: Midjourney

“Uau, Ethan”, disse um de seus colegas de trabalho, rindo nervosamente. “Você está, uh, realmente vivendo o sonho.”

“Eu sei, certo?” Ethan respondeu, sua voz cheia de orgulho repugnantemente presunçoso. “É tudo uma questão de jogar suas cartas direito. É fácil, rapazes. Eu vou treinar vocês. Esposa feia na mão esquerda, esposa bonita na direita.”

A palavra “feio” continuava ecoando em meus ouvidos, como um eco cruel.

Um homem sentado em um sofá | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem sentado em um sofá | Fonte: Midjourney

Eu queria gritar, invadir o quarto e exigir respostas. Mas não o fiz. Em vez disso, dei um passo para trás silenciosamente e subi as escadas, pronta para entrar no chuveiro e lavar a sensação viscosa que havia tomado conta de mim.

Naquela noite, Ethan agiu como se nada tivesse acontecido. Ele entrou na cozinha e me ajudou a cozinhar o salmão e o brócolis, um prato que as crianças adoraram. Ele até me beijou na bochecha, perguntou sobre meu dia e ajudou a colocar as crianças para dormir.

Era quase cômico o quanto ele não tinha noção da tempestade que se formava dentro de mim.

Uma bandeja de comida | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma bandeja de comida | Fonte: Midjourney

“Você está bem?”, ele perguntou mais tarde quando eu estava fazendo canecas de chocolate quente para as crianças. Finalmente, ele pareceu perceber que eu estava mais quieta do que o normal.

Forcei um sorriso.

“Só estou cansado. Foi um longo dia”, eu disse.

“Bom, não exagere”, ele disse, dando um tapinha no meu ombro como se estivesse me fazendo um favor.

Duas canecas de chocolate quente | Fonte: Midjourney

Duas canecas de chocolate quente | Fonte: Midjourney

Eu assenti, reprimindo a vontade de gritar.

Na manhã seguinte, acordei cedo, minha mente a mil. Ethan saiu para o trabalho com seu beijo habitual na bochecha, e eu coloquei um sorriso no rosto enquanto ele saía pela porta.

Assim que ele se foi, comecei a planejar. Eu não estava apenas bravo. Eu estava determinado.

Um homem vestindo um terno | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem vestindo um terno | Fonte: Midjourney

No meio da tarde, eu tinha tudo o que precisava: fotos de Ethan com suas “lindas”, capturas de tela de mensagens de flerte e alguns registros financeiros que pintavam um quadro muito claro de sua vida dupla.

Fiquei ali sentado com meu laptop, sentindo como me sentia na universidade quando estava montando uma tarefa. A mesma ansiedade iminente por causa de um prazo. O mesmo medo enquanto eu montava as coisas. Como se tudo dependesse disso. E se eu for honesto… tudo era …

Eu não tinha ideia de quanto tempo isso estava acontecendo, mas o que eu queria era fazer Ethan sentir dor.

Uma mulher sentada em um laptop | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher sentada em um laptop | Fonte: Midjourney

Eu queria envergonhá-lo e partir seu coração. Eu queria que ele entendesse o quão humilhantes suas palavras eram. Eu queria que ele crescesse e percebesse que não estava se comportando como o homem digno de uma esposa e filhos, indigno da vida que tínhamos construído.

Ele não merecia nada.

Quando ele chegou em casa naquela noite, ele não tinha ideia do que o esperava. Eu não tinha me incomodado em cozinhar para ele. Em vez disso, levei as crianças para comer comida chinesa e as deixei na casa da minha mãe.

Crianças segurando um saco de biscoitos da sorte | Fonte: Midjourney

Crianças segurando um saco de biscoitos da sorte | Fonte: Midjourney

Ethan e eu íamos ter um confronto.

“Oi, querida”, ele disse, exibindo seu sorriso presunçoso de sempre. “Como foi seu dia?”

“Ah, só o de sempre”, respondi casualmente. “Mas eu comprei algo especial para você.”

Ele levantou uma sobrancelha, intrigado.

Um homem sorridente | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem sorridente | Fonte: Midjourney

“Especial? Qual é a ocasião? Eu sou o homem mais sortudo do mundo, não sou? O que tem para o jantar?”

“Só senti vontade de te tratar”, eu disse com um sorriso doce. “Venha para a sala de estar. Eu te mostro.”

Ele me seguiu, com curiosidade estampada em seu rosto.

“Sente-se, querido”, eu disse, gesticulando para que ele se sentasse na cadeira que eu tinha colocado em frente à TV. Eu até tinha deixado uma tigela de pretzels e uma lata de cerveja na mesa de centro para ele.

Cerveja e pretzels em uma mesa de centro | Fonte: Midjourney

Cerveja e pretzels em uma mesa de centro | Fonte: Midjourney

“Do que se trata, Sarah?”, ele perguntou, ainda sorrindo.

“Você verá!”, respondi, entregando-lhe a lata de cerveja.

Peguei o controle remoto e liguei a TV.

Então, a apresentação de slides começou.

Uma mulher segurando um controle remoto de TV | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher segurando um controle remoto de TV | Fonte: Midjourney

A princípio, Ethan não entendeu o que estava vendo. As primeiras fotos eram inofensivas o suficiente — fotos cênicas de férias que ele tirou sob o pretexto de “viagens de negócios”.

Mas então as imagens mudaram.

Lá estava ele, de braços dados com uma mulher que reconheci da lista de amigos dele no Facebook. Depois, outra foto dele rindo com uma mulher diferente, com bebidas na mão.

Um casal segurando bebidas | Fonte: Midjourney

Um casal segurando bebidas | Fonte: Midjourney

“Sarah”, ele começou. “Olha, eu posso explicar.”

Levantei a mão.

“Silêncio, querida”, eu disse. “Continue assistindo. Aproveite o show.”

Mais fotos apareceram, cada uma mais contundente que a anterior.

Uma mulher pensativa | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher pensativa | Fonte: Midjourney

“Você não achou que eu descobriria, não é?”, perguntei.

“Onde você conseguiu isso?”, ele perguntou, sua presunção substituída pelo pânico.

“Você não é exatamente sutil, Ethan”, respondi. “Mas esse não é o ponto. O ponto é que eu aguentei muita coisa ao longo dos anos. E ignorei todos os sinais de alerta, para o desgosto da minha mãe. Ignorei todas as desculpas idiotas. Mas isso? Se gabar para os seus amigos sobre como você está me usando? Isso é um novo ponto baixo, até para você.”

Uma mulher furiosa | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher furiosa | Fonte: Midjourney

“Sarah, por favor, vamos conversar sobre isso, querida”, ele implorou, com as mãos tremendo.

“Ah, vamos conversar”, eu disse, me aproximando. “Mas primeiro, deixe-me apresentar alguém a você.”

Abri a porta e entrou meu advogado de divórcio.

Um homem de terno | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem de terno | Fonte: Midjourney

“Que diabos? Quem é esse?” ele gaguejou.

“Isto”, eu disse calmamente. “Este é o começo do fim, Ethan.”

O advogado explicou os termos:

Ethan perderia a casa, que foi o presente de casamento dos meus pais para nós. Ele perderia o carro, que estava no meu nome. E a maior parte do seu salário iria para pensão alimentícia.

Um homem zangado | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem zangado | Fonte: Midjourney

“Você não pode fazer isso, Sarah!” Ethan gritou, seu rosto ficando vermelho.

“Na verdade, eu posso”, respondi. “Você fez suas escolhas, Ethan. Agora você pode viver com elas.”

No dia seguinte, Ethan fez as malas e se mudou. Ele planejava ficar no couch surfing até que as coisas “se acalmassem para ele”.

Um homem fazendo uma mala | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem fazendo uma mala | Fonte: Midjourney

No começo, ele tentou me reconquistar com desculpas e promessas. Ele jurou que mudaria e que tinha sido “estúpido” e “egoísta”.

Mas eu não estava interessado.

“Eu te dei tudo”, eu disse a ele durante uma de suas ligações desesperadas. “Mas você jogou tudo fora. Isso é culpa sua.”

As crianças e eu estamos bem. Elas perguntam sobre Ethan ocasionalmente, e ficam animadas quando eu as levo para conhecê-lo. Mas no final do dia, estamos melhores assim.

Duas crianças sorridentes | Fonte: Midjourney

Duas crianças sorridentes | Fonte: Midjourney

Meses depois, ouvi de um amigo em comum que Ethan estava passando por dificuldades.

“Ele ainda está dormindo no sofá do Joshua”, ela disse. “Aparentemente, ele mal consegue dar conta das despesas.”

E descobriu-se que todas as suas “lindas” tinham desaparecido, deixando-o sozinho para enfrentar a bagunça que havia feito.

E quanto a mim?

Um homem dormindo em um sofá | Fonte: Midjourney

Um homem dormindo em um sofá | Fonte: Midjourney

Eu estava prosperando. Entre o trabalho e todo o meu tempo livre, comecei a tirar um tempo para mim. Redescobri meu amor pelo bordado, que é algo que eu fazia com minha avó quando eu era criança. E até fui a alguns encontros.

Mas a melhor parte? Ver meus filhos sorrirem, saber que eles estavam crescendo em um lar cheio de amor e respeito.

Uma mulher fazendo bordado | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher fazendo bordado | Fonte: Midjourney

Ethan pensou que tinha me quebrado. Ele pensou que poderia aguentar e aguentar sem consequências. Mas no final, a única coisa que ele quebrou foi ele mesmo.

E sinceramente? Não me sinto mal por isso.

Uma mulher sorridente | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher sorridente | Fonte: Midjourney

Gostou dessa história? Aqui vai outra para você:

Meu marido me deixou com nosso filho pequeno na classe econômica e foi para a classe executiva – ele se arrependeu muito

Quando Claire, John e seu filho, Ethan, embarcam em um voo para os pais de John, John misteriosamente desaparece para a Classe Executiva, deixando Claire para enfrentar o voo com o bebê sozinha. Mas quando eles chegam ao seu destino, o sogro de Claire ensina a John uma lição que ele não vai esquecer.

Cerca de uma semana atrás, meu sogro realmente mostrou ao meu marido que, apesar de ser casado e ter um filho, ele ainda tinha muito a aprender.

Um casal com seu filho pequeno | Fonte: Midjourney

Um casal com seu filho pequeno | Fonte: Midjourney

Meu marido, John, e eu estávamos nos preparando para a tão esperada viagem para a casa dos pais dele com nosso filho enérgico de dois anos, Ethan. John estava particularmente estressado com o trabalho e continuava falando sobre o quanto precisava de uma pausa.

“Claire, mal posso esperar para finalmente relaxar”, disse John enquanto fazíamos as malas. “Só preciso de um pouco de paz e sossego, sabe?”

Sorri, embora estivesse preocupada em embalar os brinquedos de Ethan.

“Eu sei, John. Todos nós precisamos de uma pausa. Mas será divertido para Ethan ver seus avós e ser mimado com o amor deles por um tempo.”

Eu mal sabia que meu marido tinha planos bastante egoístas em mente.

Uma mulher fazendo as malas | Fonte: Midjourney

Uma mulher fazendo as malas | Fonte: Midjourney

No aeroporto, eu estava ocupada cuidando do nosso filho pequeno e cuidando da bagagem enquanto ainda tentava abrir um recipiente de molho de maçã para Ethan. John misteriosamente desapareceu.

Este trabalho é inspirado em eventos e pessoas reais, mas foi ficcionalizado para fins criativos. Nomes, personagens e detalhes foram alterados para proteger a privacidade e melhorar a narrativa. Qualquer semelhança com pessoas reais, vivas ou mortas, ou eventos reais é mera coincidência e não intencional do autor.

O autor e a editora não fazem nenhuma reivindicação quanto à precisão dos eventos ou à representação dos personagens e não são responsáveis ​​por nenhuma interpretação errônea. Esta história é fornecida “como está”, e quaisquer opiniões expressas são as dos personagens e não refletem as opiniões do autor ou da editora.

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