DADADEL
My husband, Michael, and I had carefully planned the birth of our first child. Everything was set, from the music to the adorable hat Michael was going to place on our newborn. But when the moment came, Michael was nowhere to be found. Although the nurses tried to reassure me that he was probably delayed, I had a sinking feeling that something was seriously wrong. Our daughter, Emily, was born, but instead of pure joy, I was consumed with worry about where Michael could be.
After two days in the hospital, I went home with Emily, still holding onto hope that there was a good explanation for his absence. I convinced myself that perhaps something had come up at work or even that he’d had an accident. However, nothing could have prepared me for what I discovered when I got home.
The house was eerily quiet. Rushing upstairs to the nursery, I half-expected to find Michael there, setting up a surprise. Instead, the room was empty, except for the crib, where a note lay ominously. My heart raced as I opened it to read: “I love you and our baby, but I had to leave forever. Ask your mom why she did this to me.”
Shocked, I immediately demanded answers from my mother, who was sitting with Emily. She confessed that she had discovered Michael’s affair with someone from his office—a wealthy woman who had been offering him luxuries we couldn’t afford. My mother had confronted Michael and given him an ultimatum: confess to me or leave. Michael chose the latter, leaving me to deal with the fallout.
I was furious. Not only had my husband betrayed me, but my mother had kept this devastating secret from me, robbing me of the chance to address it with him. In her attempt to protect me, she had only made things worse.
Days passed, and I struggled to make sense of everything. I tried reaching out to Michael multiple times, but he ignored my calls. Finally, he accidentally picked up one day and confirmed everything. He admitted to the affair, saying he had fallen in love with his boss and wasn’t coming back. He even promised to transfer the house into my name.
Although heartbroken, I felt a strange sense of relief. Michael was gone, but now I could move forward with Emily, knowing she wouldn’t be caught in the middle of this painful situation. It was just the two of us now, and while it would be difficult, I knew we would be okay.
