Sandra and I lived together for four years. We had a son together. We married young, out of love. But love ended when we had a family and problems. There was not enough money, constant debts, quarrels. We lost interest in each other and became complete strangers. So we decided to divorce.
We did better separately. I paid alimony for my son. I loved him very much. But I did not see him. He did not want to. I understood and accepted it. So I did not insist.
My son was very attached to his mother. It’s not surprising. She was with him all the time. She also could not imagine her life without her son. Because she was alone in this world. Her parents died in a car accident when she was sixteen. Sandra was taken in by her aunt, who raised her. But she died a few years ago. So she had no one else left.
And so the days passed.
Yesterday, Sandra’s friend called me. That call took the ground from under my feet.
– She has three months to live. Andrew, she is dying… Do you understand that? – the girl was crying. – She didn’t want to tell you until the last moment. But she has almost no time. Kevin will be alone. As he is now. He has no one but you.
I was in a state of shock. I couldn’t think straight.
– Maybe there is something else we can do. Medicine does not stand still – I was clutching at straws.
– It’s too late, Andrew. Metastases are everywhere… Come to me, let’s discuss everything.
– Okay.
I couldn’t digest that information. My ex-wife has cancer. She’s dying. I’m never gonna see her or hear from her again. How could this happen? And our son? What about him? How will he survive this? He’s so young.
And the wedding? I’m supposed to get married in a month. I met Maggie six months ago in the checkout line. It’s been a blast since then. We were good together. So we decided to get married. And now my world has turned upside down.
I sat there for a long time, and then I got up, packed up, and drove over to my friend Olivia’s. Kevin was there, playing on his tablet. I went up to him.
– Kevin, my son, do you remember me? Am I your dad?” – tears came to my eyes. My son nodded to me. What a fool he is! Not seeing his son for so long. And he looked so much like him.
The next day I went to see Sandra. I had to, even though I was scared. What am I supposed to say to her? Reassure her? Tell her everything will be okay? But nothing will be okay anymore… and she knows it.
I walked into the room. And I just froze. I looked at the bed. I saw nothing but big bottomless eyes. There was almost nothing left of Sandra. Just skin and bones. Literally.
– Andrew, please… Don’t leave him… He has no one else. Olivia has all the papers. Please. It’s hard for me. Go.
I left. I came home and wanted to get drunk. But I limited myself to a mineral water. I drank and drank. But it wasn’t enough. I fell on the bed and fell asleep. In the morning I went to meet Maggie from a business trip. She was an interpreter and flew with her boss to Spain.
She arrived tanned, happy. She told me all about her adventures.
At home we sat down to breakfast. I poured us tea and started a conversation:
– Maggie, we need to talk.
– Yes, my darling.
– You know I have a son, right?
– I know, you told me. Is he seven or what?
– He was six. You know, I want you two to meet. You don’t mind, do you?
– Yeah, I don’t mind. Bring him if you want to. But not right now.
And that was the end of the conversation.
Five virgins later, Sandra died. She didn’t have as much time as the doctors thought. She was cremated. It was her wish. I was at the funeral. Besides me, there was Olivia, Kevin and a few of Sandra’s friends. Kevin didn’t even cry once. But he’s worried. I can see it. He closed in on himself.
I went to Olivia’s. We put Kevin to bed. She asked me:
– Have you made up your mind, Andrew? You have to tell me what you’ve decided. I can’t be with Kevin all the time. I have frequent business trips.
– I know, I know. Give me a few more days.
The next day I took my son to meet Maggie.
– Kevin, this is my friend Maggie. You already have friends, right?” I tried to joke and cheer up my son.
He started crying. He just stood there and cried. And I did not know what to do. I wanted to sit down next to him and cry too. Maggie reacted instantly. She picked Kevin up and started to calm him down.
They went to the kitchen to drink tea. Maggie pulled out some cakes on the table and gave one to Kevin.
– Have a taste. This is the most delicious cake in the world, – she said gently.
We played. We watched cartoons. It was time to collect the son. They were left alone. Maggie went to the bathroom.
– Dad, will you send me to an orphanage? – the son asked.
– No, son, what makes you think that?
– Some aunt said at the funeral.
I took my son to Olivia’s. And I kept replaying her words in my head. I couldn’t leave him. He’s my blood.
The next day I tortured myself with this question. The face of dying Sandra stood before my eyes.
I could not put it off any longer and decided to take Kevin to my home. Maggie met us with delicious cakes and tea. While Kevin was playing in the room. I started talking to the girl:
– Maggie, you know that Sandra died. And now Kevin has no one but you and me. He is left alone.
– Us? I’m sorry, Andrew, but I’m nobody to him. I knew you’d bring this up. And I know what you’re going to say next. I’m against it. I want my own children, not someone else’s.
– How are they other people’s? This is my son! What are you suggesting, that I put him in an orphanage?
– Well, Andrew, there are good orphanages. We’ll visit him. And even take him home on weekends.
– No, I can’t do that. He just lost his mother. It’s hard enough for him as it is.
– Then it’s either me or him. There’s no third option.
I turned and saw my son. He had been standing behind me for a long time. He heard all our conversation. I could see Maggie was determined. And she could not think otherwise.
I silently took my son in my arms and went to pack my things. I would have to move to my old apartment, because this was Maggie’s.
We drove in silence. We entered the apartment. We were tired and went to bed, turned on the TV and lay down.
– Dad, are you crying? – my son asked.
– No, son, everything is fine, – I said, wiping my eyes.
– Dad, will I live with you now? You won’t send me anywhere else?
– Yes, son, you will always be with me now.
– Honestly, honestly?
– I promise.
My son jumped up and hugged me tightly. I realized that I made the right decision.
No more Sandra, no more Maggie. It was just the two of us. But I knew that we would cope.
Do you think it will be difficult for Andrew to cope with his son?
