Its true what they say: the longer a couple dates, the rockier their marriage can turn out to be…
There was a couple who had been together for seven years when they finally decided to get married. In all that time, theyd never actually lived together for even a single full day; both of them were quite happy having their own space and time. An unexpected pregnancy, however, pushed them into tying the knot.
At first, sharing a home was new and exciting for both of them. They started renovating their little London flat after her grandmother moved in with her parents, freeing up the place for the newlyweds. After that came the enjoyable trips to IKEA and department stores, filling the flat with furniture and kitchen gear. But once everything was in its place, the couple found themselves oddly uneasy being cooped up together within those four walls.
Her husband started suggesting he go out for a pint with his mates, and she was glad to let him have his time with friends. Before long, this became their usual routine, and it suited them just fine. Much like during their seven years dating, they saw each other at home only well after dark.
As her due date drew closer, her husband seemed a little more withdrawn each day. She didnt pay much attention, until one afternoon a rather odd woman rang her and announced her husband would be moving in with her. Sure enough, while she was out at a routine appointment with her midwife, hed packed his bags and vanished.
What made it worse was that he couldnt even be bothered to say a word to his pregnant wifehed simply run away. He didnt even bother showing up to the divorce hearing. The young woman went out of her way to make sure her babys birth certificate wouldnt name any father, sorting out all the paperwork quickly with a little help from people she knew.
She gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boywith the sweetest dimples in his cheeks. The moment she saw her son, all her bitterness faded into nothing. Her parents backed her every step of the way, helping her bring up her son. She no longer wanted to think of relationships with men; the wound in her heart seemed too deep to ever heal.
Her son had just turned three when there was a ring at the door. Expecting her mum to come and watch her grandson, she didnt even glance through the spyhole before opening it. Standing there was her ex-husband, holding an enormous bouquet of English rosesher favouriteand a big racing car toy, the first present hed ever bought his son.
She gazed at her ex-husband in silence until he spoke:
Im so sorry Ill do anything you ask me to
Do you honestly think it makes any difference now? So many years have passed
Just then, her son darted out into the hallway.
No. And dont ever come back. We havent needed you in all this time, and were used to being on our own
No hurt lingered in her heart. Over the years, her resentment had long since faded away. All that remained was a quiet pity for her former husband, who had lost his son for good.
