He Left Me with Three Children and Aging Parents to Run Away with His Mistress.

He left me with three kids and elderly parents to run off with his mistress.

I couldnt stop him.
It all started on my birthday.

Back then, I lived in a tiny village, scraping by on pennies, and the shop windows in town were full of lovely thingshonestly, it was like staring at a treasure chest.

I was obsessed with a pair of sandals.

There I stood, daydreaming about wearing them, strolling down the high street, turning heads like some glamorous film star

Then someone nudged me.

I turned and saw a man smiling at me.

Nice, arent they? He nodded at the sandals.
Yes I sighed, still hypnotised by the display.

Fancy a coffee? If I buy you those, will you go out with me?

I probably looked daft, standing there like a lovesick teenager, but at that moment, I didnt care.

Deal, I said.

I wanted those sandals. I wanted to feel special, even if just for one night.

We sat in a café, he ordered me cake, and I spun him my sad little tale.

I told him my parents were dead.

Which was half-true.

My dad really was gone, but my mum?

Well, Id buried her in my mind years agoshed abandoned me as a baby.

I told it just right, all tearful and tragic.

And it worked.

Thats how it started.

I began coming into town more, seeing him.

His name was Lawrence. He treated me like a princesssandals first, then dresses, jewellery, fancy perfumes.

But no, I wasnt some gold-digger.

I loved him.

I thought he loved me too.

But I was naïve.

I slipped up. Got pregnant.

And I expected every reaction except:

Move in with me. Well raise this baby together.

I couldnt believe my luck.

*My mother ruined my life.*

We got married.

Finally, I thought, fate was on my side.

Then one day, there was a knock at the door.

I opened itnearly fainted.

There stood my mother.

With a bag of pickled onions, like wed just popped to the shops yesterday.

A neighbour had told her where I lived now.

She wanted to make amends.

And Lawrence found out the truth.

He realised Id lied.

Just like that, his love vanished.

He shouted, called me a lying country girl, asked if my dad was going to rise from the grave next, since I deleted people so easily.

Then he kicked us out.

Me, my mother, and her bloody pickled onions.

*I still believed in himand again, I was wrong.*

I went back to my grandparents.

Sent my mother packing.

And there I was, alone with my baby.

But Lawrence came back.

Lets try again, he said. Weve got a son.

And I believed him.

Foolishly, I thought love could fix anything.

But he didnt take me back to his flat.

We moved into his parents’ old placehis elderly mum and dad needed looking after.

I agreed.

I did everything for him, his parents, our son.

Then I got pregnant again.

One day, we argued, and he snapped:

Dont forgetyoure just a guest here!

Those words cut deep.

Still, I stayed.

I thought love could weather any storm.

When the second baby arrived, he claimed money was tight, his business had gone under.

Now we were equalboth broke.

Then came the third.

I thought, *This is it. Were in this together, forever.*

He started working longer hoursout early, home late.

I assumed he was grinding for us.

I missed the signs.

*Italya one-way ticket just not for me.*

Then one day, he announced:

I cant do this anymore. Theres no future here. Im moving abroad.

I believed him.

He looked exhausted, defeated.

I even accepted itlet him go, let him try his luck elsewhere.

Then, by accident, I found out the truth.

At the airport, there were two tickets for a flight to Italy.

One in his name.

And anotherfor a woman hed been seeing for years.

I understood then.

But I couldnt stop him.

He left.

And I stayed.

With three kids.

With his parents, who werent just strangers anymore.

In an empty house and a heart full of pain.

I dont know how to carry on.

I just hope, one day, it hurts a little less.