No need to say it this is all my fault! Ellie, my mate Jacks sister, broke down in tears. I could never have imagined anything like this happening! And now Ive no idea what Im supposed to do next. I dont even know how to handle things without losing face.
A few years back, Ellie married a bloke named David.
After the wedding, it was decided the newlyweds would live with Davids mum. His parents had a roomy three-bedroom house in Manchester, and David was their only child.
Ill keep one bedroom for myself, and the rest is yours! said the mother-in-law. Were all civilised people, Im sure well all get along just fine.
If things ever get difficult, we can always move out, David told Ellie later. I see nothing wrong with giving living under the same roof as my mum a go. If it doesnt work, well just find a flat to rent.
Thats exactly what they tried. Turns out, living together wasnt so simple. Both Ellie and her mother-in-law put in an effort, but tensions just built up day by day. Bottled-up frustrations would erupt now and again, and soon arguments became a regular thing.
You said wed move out if it didnt work! Ellie cried.
Well, havent we been managing? his mum would say, dismissively. Its not worth packing your bags over a few squabbles.
Exactly a year after the wedding, Ellie became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
Her sons arrival happened just when Davids mum had left her old office job and hadnt found anything new yet, since most companies didnt want to hire someone so close to retirement. So Ellie and her mother-in-law were more or less cooped up together all day every day, with nowhere else to go. Unsurprisingly, the mood at home got worse and worse.
David would only shrug and listen to the complaints, since he was the only one earning a wage at that point.
We cant just leave my mum now shes got no money to get by on. I cant just dump her, and I cant afford to rent us a place and send her money, too. As soon as Mum sorts herself a job, well move out.
But Ellie was running out of patience. Eventually, she packed up her and her sons things and moved back in with her own mum in Liverpool. When she left, she told David she wouldnt step foot in his mums house again. If his family was important to him, hed have to come up with another solution.
Ellie was sure that, because David cared about them, hed find a way to sort things out and bring her back. But she was wrong.
Its been over three months since Ellie moved back to her mums, and David hasnt lifted a finger to get her to come home. He still lives with his mum, catching up with Ellie and their son over FaceTime after work and visiting them at her mums for the weekend.
David now enjoys attention and concern from two women at once. His mothers got plenty of sympathy for the son his furious wife left behind, and otherwise, he hasnt got any responsibilities towards the child. Talk about coming out on top. And his mum is probably loving life too shes hardly lost anything at all.
Meanwhile, Ellies still upset about it all. She really does love her husband, though she knows full well hes behaving badly.
What did you expect when you left? David would ask. You can always come back if you want.
Truth is, Ellies in no position to leave her mums or rent a flat. Shes still on maternity leave, so naturally, she hasnt got the money.
So, is this the end of the road for their family?
Do you reckon theres any chance Ellie could ever go back to her mother-in-laws house and come out of it all with her dignity still intact?












