My other woman is younger and more pleasant,” my husband declared, “I’ve already filed for divorce…

“I’ve got someone else now, younger and nicer,” the man declared. “Ive already filed for divorce”

His bag had been sitting by the door for days. One evening, returning from work, Angela noticed him darting between rooms, tossing things into another bag. The night before, theyd argued again, and shed told him to be gone by the time she got back.

She was tired of his endless job searches that always led nowhere.

“Angel, lend me some moneytomorrow Ill get hired somewhere, I swear,” he repeated like a broken record, only to come home drunk, reeking of strangers perfume, long past midnight.

Tom was eight years younger than Angela, yet somehow hed slipped into her heart, pushing aside the man whod lived there beforeeven convincing her to marry him at the registry office. Shed known nothing good would come of it, but loneliness had worn her down, and the one shed waited for all her life had vanished years ago, never to be heard from again.

When she found him still in the flat, she told him she was filing for divorce and gave him five minutes to leave.

Tom glared at her and hissed, “Fine, divorce it is!” He stormed into the bedroom, stuffed his things haphazardly into the bag, then bolted into the hallway, forced to answer his ringing phone.

His voice rose in agitation before he grabbed a leather jacket from the closet, shrugged it on, and fled into the stairwellleaving the bag behind.

Angela assumed hed left it on purpose, an excuse to beg for forgiveness again. But not this time. Her patience and pity had run out. Days passed with no sign of him.

Finally, she called, demanding he collect his things immediately.

“Dont need that rubbish,” he snapped. “My new girl wont let me near your place. And *I* filed for divorce, so relax. Im marrying someone elseshes pregnant. Got it? Did you really think I needed *you*? Yeah, you paid my waycheers for that. Ive got someone younger and nicer now. Toss the lot or give it awayplenty of blokesd shack up with you for the money. And dont call. Ever!”

Each word stung like a slap. Shed known better than to get involved with a younger man, but shed fallen for his endless pleading and promises.

She grabbed the bag, pulled on her coat, and hurled it into a dumpster outside.

Enough. Wiping away tears, she went home, showered, and put on a comedy.

“Better,” she muttered, vowing to live for herself now. The past belonged in the past.

Days later, her companyrecently acquiredplanned a team event. She prepared meticulously: a speech drafted by professionals, an elegant dress from the tailor, jewellery from her safe.

Her heart lurched when she lifted the lid. The safe was emptyno passport, no heirlooms, no gifts from her grandmother.

She called her ex. He hung up, then blocked her. She reported the theft to the police, suspecting him.

Days later, they summoned her. The officer explained Tom had emptied the safe into his bagto “teach her a lesson” for nagging about his unemployment. Hed forgotten it when his mistress called, announcing her pregnancy.

Angela rushed to the binsbut it was too late. The dumpsters were nearly empty.

Heartbroken, she called the waste service, learning the landfills location. “Homeless folks pick through everything straight away,” the dispatcher said sympathetically.

She considered offering a reward, pleading for her passport and keepsakes. As she stared out the window, the doorbell rang.

Her neighbours boy stood there, holding *the* bag.

“Some bloke asked me to give you this!” he chirped before darting off.

Inside, everything was therejewellery, passport, all untouched. Relief washed over her as she sipped hot chocolate by the window.

She needed to thank the stranger whod returned it all. The next day, she asked the boy where to find him.

“Lives in an old hut behind the college,” he said.

She hesitated before knocking. The door swung open to reveal a man in worn but tidy clothes. His small, orderly space held a cot, a table, and a crackling stove.

“Tea?” he rasped. She hesitated, then nodded.

As she sipped, she studied his face. “You look familiar”

His eyes locked onto hers. “We went to school together, Angela.”

Her hands trembled. “*Eugene?*”

He smiled sadly. “Yeah. I recognised you from your passport. Never thought wed meet like this.”

“Come home with me,” she blurted. “I want to hear your story.”

That night, clean-shaven and showered, Eugene told her everything. She wept as he spoke.

“How did you survive all this?”

“Dont regret a second. It led me back to you.”

They talked until dawn, their lives entwining again.

Later, Angela divorced Tom. Eugene reclaimed his documents and rebuilt his life. They married at the registry office, and a year later, welcomed a sonlonged for by them both.

Rate article
My other woman is younger and more pleasant,” my husband declared, “I’ve already filed for divorce…
Just Keep Breathing…