“I want a divorce,” Elizabeth announced.
At that moment, David was engrossed in a football match and didn’t react at all to his wife’s words.
Elizabeth walked over and switched off the television.
“What are you doing?! Have you lost your mind?!” David shouted, then quickly composed himself, made an effort, and spoke calmly, “Sorry. It’s just that it was an important moment.”
“I’m sure it’s not more important than what I said.”
“What did you say?” he asked, realizing he had, once again, not paid attention to his wife’s words.
“I want a divorce.”
David’s eyes widened in surprise, “A divorce? Why? I thought everything was fine between us.”
“You thought.”
“Wait… Yesterday we went to the theatre, the day before, I brought you flowers, last week, we went to the cinema. All the things you love…”
“Yes, but that was the first time in seven years of marriage. And I think I know why.”
“And why is that?!” David was starting to get annoyed.
“Because I put the kids in nursery, found a job, started going to the gym, to the salon, changed my image, and made new friends.”
“What has that got to do with anything?”
“It has everything to do with it! You suddenly noticed I was interesting to other people, that men were paying attention to me, that I didn’t need you as I used to.”
“Nonsense…”
“No, David, it’s not nonsense. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been scared, wouldn’t have started trying to please me, wouldn’t have looked at me like you do, wouldn’t have given me flowers, and wouldn’t have taken me to the cinema and theatre. For you, that’s practically heroic!”
“I was trying… I wanted to make you happy… Hang on, I still don’t understand, you want a divorce because of this?”
“Yes. I don’t want to live like this anymore. You’re pretending to be a loving husband now, but where were you when I was pregnant, when I had the children, when I couldn’t sleep at night? You never helped me with anything! You were a part of our lives in a purely symbolic way. You’d come, eat, sleep. I can probably count the times you held the kids!”
“I was working!” David jumped up in indignation, “to provide for you all!”
“Working, yes. But you weren’t just providing for us, you were providing for yourself, too. And you had weekends, which you preferred to spend with your friends.”
“I’m entitled to that!”
“I didn’t have any weekends,” continued Elizabeth, ignoring his remark, “even though the kids… they’re yours too. But that seemed to interest you the least. I can still hear you saying ‘I’ve given you money, what more do you want?’ Well, I wanted… I wanted someone reliable, someone close by. Someone who would support me. Not just financially, but emotionally. To care for us, at least occasionally.”
But you weren’t up for that. You lived your life, one that barely included us…”
“That’s an exaggeration.”
“It’s not an exaggeration. Do you even know which nursery they go to? We take forty minutes to get there, every morning, on public transport! While you drive alone in your car to work, like a lord, in twenty minutes. Yet you’d never offered to take the kids.”
“You didn’t ask,” mumbled David.
“And why should I have to ask? There are things a loving husband and father shouldn’t need to be asked about. It should go without saying. But not in your case, because love was never on the table, was it?”
“You’re making me sound like a monster…”
“No, David, you’re not a monster. You’re just a complete stranger to me now. Maybe you always were.”
“What about the kids? What will you tell them? How will you explain it?”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous!” laughed Elizabeth, “They only just started recognizing you on the street recently! I won’t have problems with that.”
David was at a loss for words. Elizabeth was somewhat right, but he felt his side should be understood too: he’s a man, she’s a woman and should know her place, take care of the home and children. His father always said that. And his mother agreed. But why was Elizabeth unhappy with this?
“And how do you plan to live on one salary with two kids?” David challenged, “I’m telling you now, I won’t give you a penny!”
“Oh, you’ll give,” Elizabeth replied calmly, “Child support doesn’t just vanish. And everything we’ve acquired over seven years will be divided in court. Not that there’s much, but still. We need the fridge more, and knowing you, I bet you’ll fight for it just to spite me. So everything will go through the courts. Thankfully, we don’t own this flat. By the way, you can keep living here. The kids and I will find somewhere else,” she paused, hoping for David to object and offer to move himself. But David said nothing, “… I’ve already found a suitable place near the nursery.”
“Fine! Off you go then!” David could no longer bear to listen to Elizabeth, “You think you’ve thought of everything! Forgot anything? What about the car? I’m not giving you that!”
“I’m not asking for it,” Elizabeth smiled, “I don’t need it.”
“Why are you so generous suddenly?!” David couldn’t contain himself, “You don’t need the car?! Surely you’re already driving around in another one? Go on, admit how long you’ve been cheating on me? You’ve gotten too bold!”
“Not surprised,” Elizabeth remained calm, “I knew I’d hear something like this.”
“Understand this finally,” David rushed towards her, grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her, “Who would want you with two kids? Let’s just forget everything you’ve just said. We can live like before. I promise I’ll change, honest!”
“Like before? No way,” Elizabeth replied firmly, “That’s not going to happen.”
“But why?!” David was almost shouting in desperation.
“Because I don’t love you anymore…”
David was stunned, panicked internally and suddenly, feeling further conversation was pointless, agreed, “If that’s how it is—file for divorce.”
They were divorced six months later. Everything happened just as Elizabeth had planned.
Now, she lives with the children near their nursery, and her mornings on workdays are much calmer.
And on weekends—she’s a free woman! All because her ex-husband takes the children to his place! He takes them around town, plays with them at his home, plays all kinds of games with them. He even cooks for them!
And who can understand these men?
While they’re married, neither the wife nor the kids seem to matter. It’s all taken for granted.
Yet once they’re divorced—suddenly they make time for the kids and become the best dad in the world.
