Maria Spent Two Years as Nothing More Than a Nurse for Her Mother-in-Law Maria Managed to Marry a Highly Successful Man—Her Friends Envied Her. He Owned a Thriving Business, a Lavish Modern Home, Several Cars, and a Cottage in the Countryside, All by Age Thirty-Two. Maria, Fresh Out of University and Only Just Starting Her Career as a Teacher, Married Him That Summer. After the Wedding, Her Husband Insisted There Was No Need for His Wife to Work for Peanuts. He Told Maria to Stay Home and Prepare for Children—She Didn’t Argue. The First Year Felt Like a Fairytale: Travelling, Luxurious Shopping Sprees, Priceless Memories. But Maria Had No Occasions to Wear Her New Clothes—Her Friends Were Busy Working All Week and Dedicated Their Weekends to Family. Her Husband Attended Countless Events, But Never Brought Maria Along. Maria Felt Bored and Restless. She Couldn’t Conceive, Her Feelings for Her Husband Faded. After Housework Each Day, She Wandered Aimlessly from Room to Room, Wondering About Her Future. Another Year Went By. Her Husband Rarely Came Home During the Day, Returning Late—Tired and Moody. He Complained That Business Was Tougher Than He’d Hoped. First, He Told Her to Cut Back On Spending. Then He Demanded Maria Account for Every Purchase and Expense; He Insisted They Could Live Just As Well on Half. Maria Grew Anxious. She Wanted to Work Again, But No Teaching Jobs Materialised. She Signed Up for a Course, But Then Her Husband’s Mother Became Ill. For Two Years, Maria Had to Care for Her at Home, Doing Everything for Her. Her Husband Became Even More Distant—Rarely Returning Home. When His Mother Passed Away, Her Husband Grew Silent, Withdrawn. He Avoided Conversation, Rarely Came Home, Spent All His Time at the Office. Maria Was Puzzled—Until She Visited Her Late Mother-in-Law’s Old Flat, Where She Hadn’t Been in Ages. Behind Closed Doors, She Heard a Child Crying—She Thought the Place Was Empty but Rang the Bell. A Young Woman Opened the Door—Maria Learned Her Husband Had Started Another Family Even Before His Mother Fell Ill, Setting Them Up in His Mother’s Flat. For Maria, the Discovery Was Devastating. She Knew She Couldn’t Save Her Marriage. She Left For Another City To Stay With Her Aunt, With Barely Anything—Just a Small Bag—Wanting Nothing To Remind Her of Her Broken Marriage and the Life She’d Left Behind…

For two years, Mary was simply a carer for her husband’s mother.

Mary managed to marry a highly respected gentleman. All her friends envied her. Her husband owned his own firm, a grand, luxurious house, several cars, and a lovely cottage in the countryside. And all this by the age of thirty-two.

Mary had only just finished university and spent a year working as a teacher. They got married in the summer. After the wedding, her husband decided it was unnecessary for his wife to work for a pittance. He insisted she stay home and prepare for the arrival of children. Mary didnt object to the arrangement.

The first year of marriage seemed like a fairy tale. Mary and her husband travelled, collecting unforgettable memories and expensive purchases. But Mary had nowhere to wear her new clothes; her friends worked all week and spent their weekends with family. Her husband was always at some sort of event, but never took her along.

Mary grew bored. She couldnt conceive, her feelings for her husband started to fade. Day after day, once the housework was done, she wandered from room to room, pondering her future. Another year passed. Her husband was hardly ever home during the day and returned late at nighttired, irritable. He complained that business wasnt going as well as he’d hoped.

First, he told Mary she should spend less money. Then he insisted she account for every pound she spent. He calculated expenses, saying they could live comfortably on half the amount. Mary became anxious. She wanted to go back to work, but couldnt find a job in her field.

She decided to sign up for a new course, but then her mother-in-law fell ill. Mary had to care for her for two years. Her husband moved his mother into their home, and Mary did everythinglooked after the sick woman, managed the household. Meanwhile, her husband came home even less.

After the mother-in-law passed away, Mary’s husband became more distant. He nearly stopped speaking to her, withdrawn and morose. He barely met her gaze, buried himself in work, and was rarely ever at home.

Mary couldn’t make sense of the change until one day she visited her late mother-in-laws old flat, which she hadn’t been to for ages. Behind the closed door, she heard a child crying. Surprised, she assumed the place was empty, but decided to ring the bell.

A young woman answered. It turned out that her husband had started another family even before his mothers illness, and had set them up in his mother’s old flat.

Mary was devastated. She realised there was no saving her marriage. She left for another city to live with her aunt, taking almost nothing with her, just a small handbag. She didnt want any reminders of her marriage or the way her life had unravelled.

Life carries on, even after our dreams shatter. Sometimes, letting go is the first step towards healing and rediscovering your true self. In the end, Mary learned that self-worth should never be tethered to possessions or someone elses idea of happinessreal strength is found within.