For three hours, Katie and Daniel had been arguing. Daniel was leaning toward divorce—and he had his reasons. Though they’d married eleven years ago, they had no children. But now, divorce felt closer than ever. Daniel already knew there was no fixing things.
Katie desperately wanted a baby, but it wasn’t happening. Every time, she’d slowly unclench her fist and stare at the tiny window on the white test stick with hope bordering on despair. The doctor had told her, *”You have to believe till the end,”* but she’d stopped believing.
After seven years of marriage, the fights had become constant. They could start over the smallest thing, but they’d always end up unloading years of hurt before falling into long, heavy silences.
A divorce was overdue.
Lately, they barely spoke, avoided each other’s eyes, and moved quietly around their flat. That’s when Katie decided to cheat.
*”I’m so fed up, Annie,”* she complained to her friend. *”I can’t even look at him anymore. He’s like a ghost, just glued to his laptop. What kind of life is this?”*
*”Honestly, Kat, if I were you, I’d sneak around. Maybe you’ll even get pregnant with someone else,”* Annie suggested breezily.
*”Wait, can that really happen?”* Katie asked, surprised.
*”Who knows? Maybe!”* Annie shrugged. She didn’t have to worry—she already had a daughter, though her own marriage had failed.
Katie fell silent, but the idea gnawed at her. *”Why not? It’s just fighting with Dan now. If I mentioned divorce, he’d probably agree in a heartbeat.”*
*”Right, so tonight, we’re going to the pub. I’m meeting Tom, and he’s bringing a mate. You’ll hit it off. Your life needs some colour.”*
That “colour” turned out to be an affair with Anthony. Katie never thought she’d cheat—angry as she was with Daniel—but it happened so easily. Before she knew it, life felt brighter.
She came home late, and one day, Daniel had had enough.
*”Katie, I’m leaving. Let’s split like adults. No mess. No kids, the flat’s yours.”* His voice was firm. She could tell he’d made up his mind long ago.
Truthfully, Daniel had been good for her financially—he earned well. Anthony, on the other hand, kept promising big paydays but never delivered. He was charming, all smooth talk, especially with women who fell for his pretty-boy act.
*”Wait, Dan, let’s talk about this—”* For some reason, she didn’t want the divorce.
*”No. I won’t forgive cheating.”*
*”Cheating? Where’d you get that idea?”* She was sure he was clueless, buried in his code—he *was* a programmer, after all.
She didn’t know his mate Paul had spotted her at the pub with another man—more than once—and she hadn’t exactly been subtle.
*”Kat, don’t play dumb. I know everything. I’m done. Annie can keep you entertained.”* Her jaw dropped—how did he know?
*”That’s it. I’m gone.”* He grabbed his pre-packed suitcase, dropped the keys on the side table, and left.
He threw his things in the boot and sped off.
**A Detour to the Countryside**
*”Well, it wasn’t meant to be. I’ll get over it—I’m already sick of it all,”* Daniel thought, eyes fixed on the road. *”I’ll go to the village, fix up the house. Funny—I nearly sold it. Guess I always knew I’d need it.”*
His parents were gone too soon. *”I’ll tidy up, go fishing, maybe even get some chickens. Thirty-three’s not old—Christ’s age, even.”* He smirked. *”Remote work’s sorted. No worries there.”*
The drive took two hours. Hunger hit, so he pulled off onto a dirt road leading to a small village and stopped at a corner shop.
Outside, two scrawny cats stared at him. *”Hungry, huh?”*
Inside, he grabbed fresh pasties—the smell was irresistible—plus sausages and juice. Outside, he tore up the sausages for the cats, but a tiny grey-striped kitten with green eyes sat apart, unmoving.
*”Scared, poor thing.”*
Then he saw why—someone had tied its back legs with fishing line.
*”Bastards,”* Daniel muttered, freeing the kitten and bundling it into the car. It wolfed down a bite of pasty, then curled up asleep on the seat.
*”Well, Smudge, looks like it’s you and me now,”* he said, stroking its fur. *”Who’d do this to you? Lucky we found each other. Just us two—but that’s enough.”*
**A Fresh Start**
A year later, Smudge had grown into a majestic cat, shadowing Daniel everywhere. The cottage was fixed up, chickens pecked in the yard, and the garden thrived.
One winter day, Daniel was cross-country skiing when he spotted a woman in a green beanie gliding toward him.
*”Sasha? Bloody hell, it *is* you!”*
She laughed. *”Dan! Knew it was you straight away.”*
*”What brings you here? Parents okay?”*
*”Mum’s ill. Had to come back. Working remotely now.”*
They talked for hours, reminiscing over old school photos. Smudge blinked sleepily beside them.
Soon, they were inseparable—skiing, shopping in town, caring for Sasha’s mum. When her mother passed, Daniel handled everything.
*”You’ll get through this, Sash. I did. Stay—I don’t want to lose you again.”*
*”I’m not leaving. I’ve gotten used to you, Dan.”*
*”Then let’s get married. Before I miss my chance.”*
She smiled. *”Not yet. But yes.”*
**A New Chapter**
Time passed. Daniel took up beekeeping, setting up hives near the woods. With Sasha and their toddler, Oliver, they built a “tea hut,” selling honey, mead, and herbal blends. Word spread—locals and visitors alike came for their goods.
Smudge, now a regal tom, ruled the house. Maybe he knew he’d brought luck. Three-year-old Oliver pestered him, but they got along.
And now, Dan and Sasha were thinking about a little sister for him.
