**A Diary Entry**
*Saturday Morning*
Its done. I dropped Daniel off at my parents house this morning. They agreed to look after him for a while.
When I got home, I pulled out the cardboard boxes from the balcony and started packing. First, the nurseryhis little clothes, teddy bears, storybookseverything sealed with tape and labelled. Soon, the room was empty except for the furniture, which Ive no intention of taking.
Around noon, my phone rang. *Mother-in-law.*
«Hello, Margaret.»
«Good afternoon, Emily. Jeremy told me everything. I understand youre upset, but must you be so hasty? Take a moment, cool off. Is it really worth breaking up the family?»
«Im not the one breaking it, Margaret. Jeremy did.»
«Emily, Im not excusing him! But couldnt you forgive him, just this once?»
«*Just this once?* Hes been seeing his colleague for six months. Lying to me. And you call that *just this once*? No.»
«Please, think again. Youre taking Daniel away from his father. Jeremy adores that boy!»
«Hell still see Daniel. I wont stop that. But I refuse to stay married to your son. Now, if youll excuse me, I have packing to do.»
An hour later, Margaret showed up uninvited, convinced she could change my mind.
«Honestly, Emily, nothing *that* terrible happened! Men stray sometimesthey get carried away. Be the bigger person. Do you really want to hand your husband over to some girl? Shell think shes won!»
«Margaret, Jeremy isnt some trophy I need to fight for. Should I challenge her to a duel? A boxing match? Shes irrelevant. If it werent her, itd be someone else.»
She leaned in, lowering her voice. «Between us, Jeremys fatherGod rest himwasnt always faithful either. But I was wiser than you. I kept the family together. We celebrated thirty-five years before he passed.»
«And how, exactly, did you manage that?»
«No scenes. No tantrums. I was *sweeter*cooked his favourite meals, took an interest in his work, even changed my hair. Smiled when he came home, even when I knew where hed been.»
I nearly laughed. «Margaret, youre extraordinary. I couldnt do that. Call it pride, but I refuse to eat from a rubbish bin.»
She stormed out without another word.
I kept packing. This isnt overJeremy and Margaret will make sure of that. Which is why I need to leave. Fast.
*Sunday*
Dad came round early. We loaded the boxes into a van and drove off. On the way, I asked him to stop at Margaretsjust to drop off the keys.
*Later, at the café with Sarah*
«You wont believe it,» I said. «Margaret spent an hour yesterday begging me to forgive Jeremys *little indiscretions*.»
«What was her reasoning?»
«The usual. *Youre depriving Daniel of his father. All men stray. Women must be wiser.* Then she shared her *brilliant* strategy for winning back a cheating husband.»
«And?»
«Trust me, you dont want to know.»
«Did you file?»
«Friday,» I said.
«Good riddance. Watching that *creature* pretend to be a decent man was exhausting.»
My stomach dropped. «*You knew?*»
«Not for certain. But I suspected.»
«And you didnt *tell* me?»
«Emily, I had no proof! Remember what happened to Claire? She told a friend shed seen her husband with another womaneven showed a photo. The couple reconciled, and *Claire* was blamed for meddling. She quit her job over it.»
I exhaled. «Fine. But where does that leave me?»
«With a plan, I hope.»
«Dads sorting Grans old flat. Its small, but Daniel and I will manage. The nursery transfers tricky, but Mums friend is helping. Once the divorce is final, Ill file for child support.»
«Will Jeremy cooperate?»
«He says he doesnt want a divorceclaims hes learned his lesson. But Im done. He offered to pay support voluntarily, but I want it official. Then he threatened to take Daniel*better flat, better salary.*»
I smirked. «So I counted his business trips last year. *Eight.* Let him explain to the court whod care for Daniel while hes jet-setting.»
*Three Weeks Later*
Jeremy filed for custody*Emily cant provide for Daniel.* Margaret wailed to anyone whod listen that I was *hiding* him.
The judge wasnt impressed. My job, my flat, Jeremys travel schedulecase closed.
I switched firms soon after. No need to cross paths.
Then Sarah brought news: *»Jessica quit. Moved to London.»*
«Really?»
«The office ladies made sure she knew she wasnt welcome. Jeremys all alone now.»
«Not my problem.»
And I meant it. Some wells are too poisoned to drink from twice. I painted the new nursery pale yellow and hung paper stars from the ceiling. Daniel points at them every night before bed, whispering, Twinkle, twinkle.
I still cry sometimes, but less. The flat smells like soap and sleep and fresh paintnothing like the house I left behind.
Last weekend, I took Daniel to the park. He wobbled on the swings, giggling as I pushed him higher. A woman nearby smiled at us. Hes lucky to have you, she said.
I didnt answer. I just held on a little tighter, feeling the weight of him, the truth of itthe kind no one can take back.
