My wife left me and our kids two years ago when things were really tough.
Anna walked out of our apartment with just a suitcase and said, “I can’t do this anymore,” leaving me alone with our four-year-old twins, Max and Lily.
One moment, we were a family. The next, I was alone with two kids and a pile of bills.
I worked as a software programmer for a company that seemed promising, but some dishonest things happened, and it went bankrupt before we knew it. I went from making a great salary to living on unemployment checks almost instantly.
I saw the disappointment in Anna’s eyes when I told her the news. She was a marketing executive and always looked polished. But I never thought she would leave when things got tough.
I worked for ride-sharing services at night and delivered groceries during the day while also taking care of the kids. Max and Lily were sad and kept asking about their mom.
Luckily, my parents lived nearby and helped with the twins whenever they could, especially at night. But they couldn’t help me financially.
Max and Lily were my strength. After a long day, their little hugs and soft voices saying, “We love you, Daddy,” kept me going. I couldn’t let them down.
Thankfully, the second year after Anna left was much better. I got a freelance coding job, and the client was so impressed that he offered me a full-time remote job at his cybersecurity company.
The pay wasn’t as high as before, but it was steady. We moved into a smaller but nicer apartment, and I started taking care of myself again. I went to the gym, cooked healthy meals, and set a routine for the kids.
Then, exactly two years later, I saw Anna again.
While Max and Lily were at preschool, I was working at a café near our new home when I spotted her.
She sat alone at a corner table, her head down, with tears running down her face.
She looked exhausted. Her coat was faded, her hair had lost its shine, and the dark circles under her eyes showed she hadn’t been sleeping well.
What had happened? Why was she crying in a busy café? I knew I shouldn’t care. I should just finish my drink and leave. But no matter what, she was still the mother of my children.
Our eyes met, and her face shifted from shock to embarrassment.
Leaving my cup and laptop on the table, I walked toward the woman who had shattered our family.
“You left us. You walked away without a second thought. And now, two years later, I find you crying in a café? What’s going on?”
She shook her head. “I can’t explain it, but leaving you was a huge mistake. I lost my job almost right after. I lived off my savings for a while, and my parents sent me money, but they cut me off after a few months. The friends I thought I had disappeared when I needed them most.”
She sniffled. “I miss you. I want to come back.”
Anna reached across the table, her hand hovering near mine. “David, please. I know I don’t deserve it, but I’ll do anything to fix this. I’ve been living in cheap apartments, bouncing between temp jobs. I’ve had a lot of time to think, and now I see what I lost.”
I pulled my hand away. “Did you ever think about Max and Lily? Not even once in two years? You haven’t even mentioned them since I sat down.”
As I took in the situation, I felt nothing but disgust.
“Please, David. Just give me a chance,” she begged.
I turned my back to her and said, “No.”
Then I grabbed my laptop from the table and walked away.