“Dad, you’ve completely stopped talking to us,” said the older boy.
Elena didnt want to go home. She didnt want to hear the words:
*”Ive fallen in love with someone else.”* Could she survive that? Understand it? And what about the children? They adored their father.
Flicking on the lights in the flat, Nicholas confirmed no one was home. Schoolbooks were scattered in the boys’ roomthey must have done their homework and, as usual, left the mess behind. He sank into his favourite armchair, burying his face in his hands, unsure how to start the conversation with his wife.
*”Im exhausted,”* he muttered to himself. *”I hate coming back to an empty house.”* He dialled one of his sons.
“William, where are you? Im home, and the place is deserted.”
“Were at Grandmas with Mum. Shes not feeling wellwell be back soon.”
Nicholass stomach twisted. He had no idea how to broach this. Vera was twenty-five, with fiery red hair and emerald eyes. She couldve had any man, yet shed chosen hima man ten years her senior.
Every time he left her, it grew harder. Hed spun elaborate excuses for his delays, even joking to himself that retirement might be the perfect time to try writing novelshis lies came so effortlessly.
Elena was sharp. A marketing manager who loved her job, respected for her wit, patience, and expertise. She was beautifuljust not *extraordinary*, not like Vera, especially when Vera greeted him in that silk robe.
Hed always believed their marriage was solid. Elena worked, but she was always present for the boys. No one couldve predicted this.
The front door clicked. His pulse jumped. *Not tonight.* Tomorrow, hed tell her.
The boys rushed to him, chattering about school.
“Nicholas, will you eat dinner?” Elena asked.
“No. Im tired. Ill just sleep.”
Lately, his behaviour had unsettled her.
At breakfast, Nicholas sat sullen and silent.
“Dad, you never talk to us anymore,” his eldest pressed.
“Dont be ridiculous. Adults have problems they dont burden children with. Hurry up if you want a lift.”
Elena packed snacks and apples for them. His behaviour gnawed at her. *Ill talk to him tonight.*
But dinner passed without him. He returned near midnight, offering no explanation. She heard him drink water in the kitchen before retreating to bed.
After breakfast, as the boys got ready, she confronted him.
“Care to explain whats going on?”
“Well talk tonight,” he said curtly.
***
“Hes got another woman,” said Nadine when Elena confided in her.
“Dont be absurd. Weve been married ten years.”
“Thats *why* hes got another woman. Distant at night, late returnssound familiar?”
“How would you know?”
“Ive lived it. And I dont envy you.”
Elena dreaded going home, dreaded hearing: *”I love someone else.”* But change required action. She quickened her pace.
Alone in the kitchen, she tensed at the sound of the lock. Tonight, Nicholas was oddly cheerful, even asking about dinner.
“Where are the boys?”
“Doing homework. But I can feed you alone.”
He nodded and ate under her watchful gaze. Smart, hardworking, gentle. Once, hed loved everything about herher hair, eyes, lips. Not anymore.
“Delicious,” he complimented.
“Talk to me,” she said.
Silent, he reached for bread, chewing slowly. Finally, dinner ended. The silence thickened. She waited.
“Elena,” he began, avoiding her eyes, “Ive fallen in love with another woman. Im leaving. Ill still see the boys, but we wont live together.”
He sighed.
“Youre tossing us aside for selfishness. Easier to abandon your children than deny yourself.”
Nicholas had no rebuttal. She was right. Hed fallen hardtoo weak to resist Vera.
“Seems youve decided. Or can I still change your mind? Rememberonce you go, you cant come back.”
“I understand. But I wont return. Veras pregnant. I cant abandon her and the baby.”
“And your own two? No guilt?”
“Dont make this harder. Families split all the timekids still love their fathers.”
“A baby, really? Shes lying to steal you faster.”
“You dont know that.”
“Fine. But how will you tell *them*?”
“Boys, come here!” he called.
They stood before him. “Mum, were hungry.”
“Your father has something to say.” She moved to the window.
“Eat first,” Nicholas stalled.
Afterwards, his eldest asked, “What did you want to talk about?”
Elena made no effort to help. She cleared the table.
“Your fathers found another woman. Hes leaving us for her.”
“And us?” they chorused.
“Youll have a new mum. I wont interfere.”
Under stunned stares, she grabbed her bag, documents, cards, and left.
“Dad, is it true?”
Nicholas, stricken, couldnt speak.
“Bed. Now,” he barked, retreating.
***
Elena stayed with Nadine, who backed her completely.
“You did right,” Nadine assured.
“The boys” Tears fell.
“Theyll be fine. Nicholas is a prat, but he loves them.”
Sleepless, Elena downed coffee at work, lost in thought.
Her future with Nicholas was overunforgivable. Their marriage, once hopeful, now soured her soul. Shed trusted his year-long courtship, his vows.
Hope and reality were different beasts. For years, hed played the good husband and fatherno deceit detected, not even by Nadine.
Yet love had crumbled under unshakable mistakes.
Nicholas was undeniably at fault. Now, she just wanted her boys. A sip of coffee steadied heruntil the phone rang.
“When are you taking them?” Nicholas demanded. “How could you leave them? Youre their mother!”
“And *you* swore to care for them too! I kept my vowswhats your excuse? Trading them for some*thats* your care?”
“Enough. Be home tonight.”
She hung up. The words on her screen blurred.
Decision made. Time to purge him from her mind. The relief was instant. She needed her sons.
At lunch, she fetched them from school. William spotted her first. Fifteen minutes later, Michael emerged. “Mum, I missed you.”
“Me too. Listenno matter what happens with your dad, Ill always love you. Always.”
“Mummy,” Michael whispered. “I love you. I dont want a new mum.”
“I know, sweetheart.” She squeezed their hands. “Dad loves someone else. He says he wont abandon youwell see. For now, youll stay with him and his friend. But Ill visit daily. Im *always* here.”
William, wiser, asked, “You wont leave us?”
“Never.”
She dropped them home. Seeing them eased her.
Meanwhile, Vera called Nicholas, irate. “You know stress harms the baby! Where *are* you? Come tonight.” She hung up.
At home, the boys had done homework and watched TV.
“Wheres Mum?”
“Dunno,” they chorused.
“Homework done?”
“Yes.”
“Pack up. Were moving.”
“To live with *her*?”
“Yes.”
“But we dont want to!”
“Since when do kids decide? *She* left *you*.”
Michael protested, but William hissed, “Quiet.”
An hour later, they rang Veras bell.
“Finally,” she said, flinging the door openwearing little. Three pairs of eyes stared. William shut his.
“Get dressed,” Nicholas ordered.
She blocked the door. “Im *home*. And who are *they*?”
She tried to slam it, but he shoved his foot in.
“Youll share a room for now,” he told the boys.
Vera gaped.
“Wrong address?”
“Shut up. Ill explain.”
“Fine. Ill be in bed.”
***
The boys heard shouting, then crying, then silence. They slept.
Morning came. Nicholas woke them.
“Vera, whats for breakfast? The fridge is empty.”
“Did *you* fill it? Ask again when you have.” She left.
He gave them tea and toast, then drove them to school.
Elena met them after. They detailed the fight. She almost smiled.
“Hungry?”
“Yes!”
This continued all week. On Friday, Nicholas
