Mum, imagine thisDads new wife is ill, and they say its something serious.
Let me tell you a story from ten years ago. My husband and I raised two daughters whove since gone off to university. I looked forward to this new chapter, imagining wed finally have time for ourselves. But he made a different choicehe betrayed me 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. Our daughters were furious and cut ties with him. It was unbearable, especially when the younger one tried to mend things between us. I wish I could erase that year from memory. Time didnt heal the pain; I just learned to live with it. I threw myself into my hobbygrowing rare plants and selling them. It kept me from sinking into despair.
Eventually, the girls reconciled with their father and occasionally shared updates about his new life. He was happy with her, and later, they had a son together.
Mum, imagine thisshes ill, and they say its serious.
Girls, please, I dont want to hear about them, Id say, because deep down, I still loved him. The thought of him with another woman darkened my mood. Years had passed, yet in my heart, he was still my husband.
One Saturday morning, I woke to a shadow looming over me. I thought it was a dreamuntil I heard his trembling voice. Im sorry for coming so early. But I I dont know what to do with my son. Hed aged, his hair streaked with grey. Behind him stood a little boytheir son.
My wife passed last night, he continued. Ive funeral arrangements to make, the girls are working I cant take him. Hes too young.
The boy was barely school-aged. Still groggy, I stared at him until he piped up, Are you my aunt?
No, I snapped, ready to shut the door.
Mum said we had no one.
I never even knew your mother.
But he was so sweetinnocent in all this. I couldnt turn him away. Do you like porridge? Come to the kitchen. Youll have breakfast, and your dad will fetch you later.
I made coffee for myself and porridge for the boy. Watching him, I saw traces of my daughters in his smile. We spent the morning watching cartoons and reading their old storybooks. He was bright, kind.
From then on, my ex-husband brought his son over regularly. We became closethe boy, a glimpse of the grandchild my daughters werent yet ready to give me.
Two years have passed since his wifes death. Recently, he asked if we might live together again. Part of me longs for itthe idea of our family whole once more. But resentment lingers. Can I trust him after everything?
If we try and fail, the boy will suffer most. I love them both, yet fear of betrayal haunts me. Sometimes, the hardest choices arent about right or wrongbut whether love is worth the risk.
