**I Dont Need You Anymore: How He Walked Out When She Finally Could Become a Mother**
When Leonor came home from work on a Friday night, she had no idea that the evening would alter her life forever. As she entered, she called out, as she always did:
Honey, Im home!
Only silence answered. The house felt oddly still.
Thats strange He should be here by now, she thought, heading toward the bedroom.
She pushed the door open and froze. Vasco, her husband, stood at the foot of the bed, hastily stuffing clothes into a suitcase.
Vasco what are you doing? she whispered, disbelief in her voice.
Im leaving, he said flatly, without even looking at her.
Leaving? Why? Whats happened?
Its because of your father, he snapped, irritated.
My father? What does he have to do with this?
Leonor couldnt grasp the words, the meaning, or the situation. In that instant, the marriage she had poured love, patience, and warmth into began to crumble before her eyes.
She had met Vasco when she was twentyeight; he was eight years olderconfident, charming, experienced. At the time she believed she had found the right man. Family and friends kept urging her to marry, saying, Time doesnt stand still; youre no longer a girl. She started viewing every suitor as a potential husband, which intimidated many men.
With Vasco, however, things unfolded differently. They were introduced at a café through a mutual acquaintance, and the conversation flowed effortlessly. He was polite and attentive, and when he learned that Leonor owned her own apartment, drove a new car, held a good municipal job, and had a businessman father, he suddenly became even more affectionate.
A year later they staged an extravagant wedding, fully funded by her father. Vasco never complained; instead, he eagerly accepted a sales position at one of his fatherinlaws stores.
At first, married life seemed like a fairytale: trips abroad, lavish dinners, constant gifts. The only snag was that Vasco never contributed financiallyLeonor paid for everything. At first she accepted it, then she began to ask, and eventually she pleaded.
Why do I have to support us all? she complained to a friend. I want to feel like a woman, cared for and fragile.
Vasco laughed:
Dont be foolish, love. Everythings fine. Dont think about that.
At work he did almost nothing, spent hours on his phone, and kept the money he earned in his own account. Leonor remained unaware.
Then she fell seriously ill, spending a month in the hospital. Her parents visited daily; Vasco appeared only sporadically. Returning home, she was shocked by the messdirty dishes, trash scattered across the floor.
You didnt clean anything? she shouted.
Why? Thats a womans job, he replied indifferently.
I was in the hospital, Vasco! And you expect me to clean everything?
Youre home now, right? So you do it.
Weak and trembling, Leonor hired a cleaning crew. The doctor warned her that recovery would take at least a year, and pregnancy was out of the question.
A year later, once doctors finally gave her the green light, she told her husband, her voice shaking with excitement.
Can you believe it? We can finally start planning!
Im busy. This isnt a good time, he grumbled, eyes glued to his console. The gift she had just bought for him was his only concern.
Weeks passed and his indifference continued. Then, one day, he confessed:
Leonor, Im leaving. I dont want a child with you.
What are you saying?!
I dont love you. I never did. I was with you only because it was convenientyour apartment, your money, your car. Im done. I dont need you anymore.
Vasco, you cant do this Look at how hard I fought, how patient I was!
Those are your problems. Im free.
He slammed his suitcase, stuffed the console inside, and walked out.
Leonor stopped eating, stopped sleeping. She sat at home, staring into emptiness. Three days later, her worried parents arrived. Seeing her in that state, her father barely restrained his anger.
They took her to a country house. That very night Vasco lost his job. Shortly after, Leonors father, Manuel António, arranged to freeze his soninlaws accounts. All of Vascos savings vanished.
Left with nothingno job, no homeVasco could barely afford a rented room. He didnt know what to do next.
Months later Leonor secured a new job. There she met Tiago, a man not much younger but honest, calm, and from the first moment he showed her respect and kindness.
Six months afterward a miracle occurred: two lines appeared on a pregnancy test. Tears, laughter, a phone call to her parents, and an overwhelming gratitude for finally having the courage to say, Enough.
