Mum, imagine thisDads new wife is ill, and they say its something serious.
Let me tell you a story from ten years ago. I raised two daughters with my husband, and theyve since gone off to university. I was looking forward to this phase of life, thinking my husband and I would start fresh together. Instead, he made a different choicehe had an affair with his secretary.
Im sorry, I never meant to hurt you, he said, but I love her.
That evening, he packed his things and left for a woman half his age. The girls were furious with him and refused to speak to him. It was unbearable for me, especially when the youngest tried to mend things between us in all sorts of ways. I wish I could erase that year from my memory. Time didnt heal the wounds; I just learned to live with them. I threw myself into my hobbies, growing unusual plants and selling them. It kept me from sinking into depression.
Eventually, the girls reconciled with their father and sometimes told me about his new life. He was happy with that woman, and later, she gave birth to his son.
Mum, imagine thisshes ill, and they say its serious.
Girls, stop talking about them. I dont like it, Id say, because deep down, I still loved my husband. The thought of him with another woman put me in a foul mood. So many years had passed, yet I still thought of him as mine.
One Saturday morning, I woke to the shadow of a figure looming over me. I thought I was dreaminguntil I heard his trembling voice. Im sorry, I know its early. But I I dont know what to do with my son. He looked older now, his hair streaked with grey. Behind him stood a little boytheir son.
My wife passed last night, he continued. Ive got the funeral to arrange, the girls are at workI cant take him with me. Hes too young.
The boy was barely school-aged. Confused, I glanced at him, and he piped up instantly.
Are you my aunt?
No, I snapped, wanting to shut this down.
Mum said we had no one.
I never even knew your mother.
But he was so sweet. I realised the boy wasnt to blame, so I agreed to help my ex.
Do you like porridge? Come to the kitchenIll make you breakfast, and your dad can fetch you later.
I brewed coffee for myself and stirred up porridge for the boy. Watching him, I saw traces of my own daughters in his face. We spent the morning watching cartoons and reading the girls old storybooks. He was gentle, bright.
From then on, my ex started bringing his son over. We became close friends. My daughters arent ready for children yet, so this boy filled a space in my heartlike a grandson.
Two years have passed since his wifes death, and recently, my ex asked if we could live together. Part of me wants that desperatelyI can picture us as a proper family. But the hurt lingers. I dont know if I can trust him again.
If we try and fail, itll only hurt the boy. So Im stuck. I love them both, but the fear of being betrayed once more wont leave me.
