I had been hoping for a quiet baby Enough! Let him finally stop crying! Andrew shouted, storming out of the bedroom and slamming the door behind him.
Emily drew a deeper breath and clutched little Milo tighter against her chest. Their sixmonthold son was wailing nonstop, his tiny face flushed with strain. She rocked him gently, humming a lullaby, but the boy showed no sign of calming.
Come on, little one, settle down, she whispered, smoothing his back. Mums right here, everythings fine.
The past months had become a blur of sleepless nights and constant worry. Milo grew increasingly fussy, fell ill often, and woke at all hours. Emily surrendered herself to motherhood, while Andrew seemed to drift in a parallel world where a crying infant and any responsibility simply didnt exist.
As she rocked, Emilys thoughts drifted back to a conversation shed had with her friend Ivy the night before.
Does he ever help you out? Ivy had asked, stirring her coffee.
Help? No, Emily shook her head. Andrews either at work, out with his mates, or staying with his mum. He only comes home to spend the night.
And he gives you any money? He knows youre on maternity leave, doesnt he?
The question made Emily let out a bitter smile.
Sometimes he chips in, but its nowhere near enough. Diapers, formula, medicines they all cost a fortune in pounds.
Now, with Milo finally asleep, Emily gently placed him in his cot, slipped out of the nursery and headed to the kitchen. The flat was silent; Andrew was already snoring in the living room.
The next two weeks turned into a nightmare. Milo stopped sleeping through the night altogether, his cries echoing through every room. Emily was a shell of exhaustion, and Andrew, who shuffled back in the early hours, grew more irritable.
Are you doing this on purpose? he hissed one night, yanking the pillow from under his head. Why cant you soothe him? I need my sleep!
Emily kept rocking the sobbing Milo.
Im trying! Hes just a baby, his gums are hurting, his teeth are coming in.
Andrew snatched the blanket and headed for the door.
Do I even matter here? Im going to the lounge to sleep. Fix the noise!
Days blended into each other. Andrews visits grew rarer, and Emily barely found the strength to speak to him.
One evening, after a walk, Emily returned home and opened the front door to find Andrew standing in the hallway, a travel bag in his hands.
Whats happened? she asked.
He didnt look at either her or Milo.
Im going back to my mums, he said, zipping his bag. Until the boy grows up, Im not staying here.
Emily stared, stunned.
Youre joking, right?
No, he replied, still not meeting her eyes. I need to sleep at night. Its impossible living here hes always screaming and you do nothing.
Emily carefully adjusted the stroller so as not to wake Milo, crossed her arms over her chest and said, You remember you wanted this child? You said now was the right time and wed face it together.
I never imagined itd be this hard, Andrew shrugged. I expected a normal, calm baby.
Emily watched him walk past her to the door, her strength for arguments drained. Milo squirmed in the stroller, and she automatically began to rock it.
Ill call, Andrew muttered, and left.
Emily stood motionless in the hallway for a few minutes, then shuffled to the kitchen and sank into a chair. Tears streamed down her cheeks, unnoticed by her own eyes.
The following day she phoned her mother.
Linda, love, her mothers voice trembled. Whats wrong?
Andrew left. He said hell come back when Milos older.
What do you mean left? Whos the father? File for divorce and claim child support. Dont wait!
For two weeks Emily hoped for a call. She didnt want to tear the family apart so quickly, but the phone stayed silent. Andrew disappeared as if hed never existed.
Emily decided shed had enough.
And then, as if on cue, Andrew appeared at the front door.
What did you do? Why file for divorce? Im the father!
Emily chuckled.
Father? Youve been away for almost a month. You never called, never asked about Milo.
I just needed a break! I needed time to think, he said.
Emily turned away.
I needed a husband, not a coward who runs when things get tough. Im handling everything on my own. I dont need a man like you.
They divorced swiftly. Emily secured childsupport payments, and Milos first year passed without his father. Andrew called once every month or two, asking how things were, but that was all.
When Milo turned eighteen months old, he became calmer. Andrew started turning up more often, asking to join them for weekend outings, always insisting on being all three of them.
I want to be part of my sons life! Give me a chance, he pleaded.
Emily agreed she didnt want to deprive Milo of a father. That arrangement lasted another six months.
After a café visit and a walk, they returned to Emilys flat. The exhusband asked to use the bathroom to wash his hands. Emily nodded, tended to Milo changed his nappies, dressed him in a cosy onesie and settled him in the playpen with his toys.
Emily! a furious shout came from the bathroom. Whats this? Explain!
Emily peeked into the hallway. Andrew stood in the bathroom doorway, clutching a toothbrush.
Whats the problem? she asked.
He flushed with anger.
Why are there two toothbrushes? Explain! he demanded.
Emily shrugged nonchalantly.
This is my boyfriends brush. He sometimes stays over. Whats the big deal?
Andrews face twisted with rage.
Youre cheating on me? Not even ashamed?
Cheating? Andrew, weve been divorced for over a year, Emily said, bewildered.
Divorce is just paperwork! he waved the brush wildly. Im helping with the child. I thought when Milo grew up Id come back and propose again!
Emily stared, astonished.
I asked you once if I needed a husband like you. Ive only tolerated you for Milos sake. I fell out of love with you long ago, even before you left!
Andrew shouted further:
Youre a fickle woman! You ruined our solid family! You wont let the boy grow up with his dad! You bring a stranger into our home!
Milo in the playpen began to whimper, frightened by the shouting. Emily scooped him up.
This stranger, as you call him, has helped me a lot, she whispered, calming her son. I met Max three months after our divorce. I was working from home, exhausted, and we bumped into each other at the supermarket. He became my support.
She patted Milos head and continued:
Max has been my rock. You youre just a man who pops in now and then to play with his son. To me, youre nothing.
Andrew turned beetred, flung the toothbrush onto the floor and stalked toward the door.
Youll regret this, he hissed.
After that, he kept his distance during visits, always finding a reason to needle Emily.
Moms a bad mum, isnt she? he whispered to Milo. She split us up. But soon your grandma will see what shes done and fix it.
Emily endured it, but one night she finally had enough.
Listen carefully, she said as Milo fell asleep in his stroller after a walk. Im not going back to you, even if Max and I ever split. Youre not the person I can rely on.
Who needs you anyway? Andrew sneered. A bloke with a snakes temper and a baby on his back.
After that, Andrew stopped calling or coming. Emily felt a strange relief shed long suspected he wanted an easy life, not a real family.
Three months passed without word from him. Emily watched Milo building towers of blocks with Max, laughing as Max tossed him gently into the air.
One afternoon Max took her hand, his voice soft.
Emily Ive wanted to ask this for a while Will you marry me?
Emily smiled, no hesitation.
Yes.
That evening she tucked Milo into bed, and for the first time in years she didnt think of her exhusband. A new chapter began, free of past mistakes.
She realised that true strength comes not from clinging to broken promises, but from recognizing when to let go and building a life on honesty, love, and selfrespect.
