He left me with three kids and elderly parents – ran off to Spain with his mistress
I couldn’t keep him
It all began on my birthday.
At the time, I was living in a village with not much money, and the city store windows were filled with beautiful things that overwhelmed me.
I was especially smitten with a pair of sandals.
I stood there, imagining how they would look on my feet, envisioning myself walking down the main street as everyone turned to look…
Then, someone gently nudged my elbow.
Turning around, I faced a man who was smiling at me.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?” he nodded toward the sandals.
“Yes…” I mumbled, still staring at the display.
“Let’s have coffee. And if I buy you these sandals, will you go on a date with me?”
I knew I seemed silly and naïve to him, but I didn’t care then.
“I will,” I replied.
I wanted a gift. I wanted to feel special, if only for one evening.
We sat in a café, he ordered cake for me, and I shared my story.
I told him my parents had passed away.
That was partly true.
I had truly buried my father, but my mother…
I had “buried” my mother in my mind during childhood, as she abandoned me as a baby.
I said it in a way to elicit sympathy.
And it worked.
That’s how it all started.
I visited the city more often, and we met frequently.
His name was James, and he welcomed me into his life, showering me with attention.
At first, it was sandals, then dresses, jewelry, lovely perfumes.
But no, I didn’t become his lover for the gifts.
I loved him.
I believed he loved me too.
But I was foolish.
I made a mistake and got pregnant.
I was prepared to hear anything:
— We need to break up.
— You’re on your own.
— Get an abortion.
But he said something else:
— You’ll move in with me. We’ll raise the child together.
I was overwhelmed with happiness.
A mother’s return shattered my life
We got married.
I was convinced that fate had finally given me a chance.
Then, one day, there was a knock on the door.
I opened it and almost fainted.
Standing there was my mother.
Holding a bag as though we had seen each other yesterday.
Turns out, a neighbor had spilled the beans about where I now lived.
She came to reconcile.
And James learned the truth.
He found out I had lied.
And in that moment, his love for me vanished.
He yelled, called me a small-town swindler, and demanded to know if my father would rise from the grave, since I could easily “remove” people from my life.
And threw us out.
Me, my mother, and her bag.
I believed him again – and I was wrong again
I returned to my grandparents’ house.
I sent my mother away.
And stayed alone with my child.
But James returned.
— Let’s get back together, – he said. – We have a son, after all.
And I believed him.
Naive, I thought love would conquer everything.
But he never brought me back to his place.
We moved into his parents’ old house – they needed care.
I agreed.
I did everything for him, his parents, our son.
Then I got pregnant again.
We had a fight once, and he angrily reminded me:
— Don’t forget, you’re just a guest here!
Those words cut through me like a knife.
Yet, I stayed.
I believed love could endure trials.
When the second child was born, he said money was tight, that his business had collapsed.
Now we were equal: I had nothing, and he didn’t either.
Then the third was born.
I thought surely nothing would change now, that we’d stay together regardless.
He began working more and more. Leaving early, returning late.
I assumed he was working hard for the family.
I didn’t see things falling apart.
Spain – a ticket to a new life… but not for me
One day, he said:
— I can’t live like this anymore. There’s no future here. I’m going abroad.
I believed him.
He seemed exhausted, overwhelmed, worn out.
I even agreed – let him go, let him try to earn.
But then I accidentally discovered the truth.
At the airport, there were two tickets for the flight to Spain.
One was in his name.
The other – was in the name of a woman he’d been involved with for years.
I understood everything.
But I couldn’t stop him.
He left.
And I stayed.
With three kids.
With his parents, who had become dear to me.
In an empty house with a heart full of pain.
I don’t know how to move forward.
I just hope that one day the pain will subside.
