21March
My husband turned up to collect me and our three newborns, but when he saw them he told me to leave the babies at the hospital.
After years of yearning, Emilys dream finally came true: she gave birth to beautiful triplet girls. Yet just a day later, Jack abandoned us, claiming the infants were cursed.
I stared down at my three little girls, my heart swelling as I took them in. Sophie, Lily and Grace were perfect, each a miracle. Id waited so long for themyears of hoping, waiting and praying.
Now they lay asleep in their cribs, tiny faces serene. I brushed a tear from my cheek, overwhelmed by how fiercely I already loved them.
Then I looked up and there was Jack. Hed just returned from a quick errand, but something was wrong. He looked pale, his eyes refused to meet mine, and he lingered by the doorway as if he wasnt sure he even wanted to be in the same room.
Jack? I said softly, patting the chair beside the bed. Sit down with me. Look at themtheyre here. We did it.
Yeah theyre beautiful, Jack muttered, barely glancing at the girls. He edged a little closer but still wouldnt look me in the eye.
Jack, I whispered, my voice shaking, whats happening? Youre scaring me.
He drew a deep breath and blurted out, Emily, I dont think I dont think we can keep them.
It felt as if the floor had dropped out from under me. What? I gasped. Jack, what are you on about? Theyre our daughters!
He winced and looked away, as if he could not bear to see my face. My mum she went to see a psychic, he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
I blinked, unsure Id heard him right. A psychic? Jack, you cant be serious.
She said she said these babies our girls He paused, his voice unsteady. She said theyd bring nothing but bad luck, that theyd ruin my life and be the cause of my death.
I stared at him, trying to wrap my head around his words. Jack, thats madness. Theyre just babies!
He lowered his head, fear etched on his face. Mum swears by this psychic. Shes been right before, and shes never been so sure of anything.
Anger rose hot and sharp inside me. So because of some ridiculous prediction you want to abandon them? Just leave them here?
He stopped, looking at me with a mixture of terror and guilt. If you want to bring them home fine, he whispered. But I wont be there. Im sorry, Emily.
I stared, trying to process his words, but all I felt was shock. Youre really serious, arent you? My voice cracked. Youre going to walk away from your daughters because of some story your mother heard?
He said nothing, only lowered his shoulders and stared at the floor.
I took a shaky breath, trying to keep myself together. If you walk out that door, Jack, you dont come back. I wont let you do this to our girls.
He looked at me one last time, his face torn, then turned and walked to the door. I Im sorry, Em, he said quietly and left, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.
I sat there, staring at the empty doorway, my heart hammering and my mind whirling. A nurse reentered, saw my face, and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder as I gathered my things.
I looked down at my babies, tears blurring my vision. Dont worry, girls, I whispered, stroking each tiny head. Im here. Ill always be here.
Holding them close, a mixture of fear and fierce determination surged within me. I had no idea how I would manage alone, but one thing was certain: I would never leave my girls. Not ever.
A few weeks have passed since Jack left, and every day without him is harder than I imagined. Caring for three newborns on my own is overwhelming.
Some days I feel Im barely hanging on, but I push through for Sophie, Lily and Grace. They are my whole world now, and even though Jacks abandonment cuts deep, I must focus on them.
One afternoon my sisterinlaw Beth came over to help with the babies. Shes the only person from Jacks family willing to keep in touch, and I hoped she might eventually persuade him to return. That day I could tell something was bothering her.
Beth bit her lip, looking at me with a pained expression. Emily, I heard something Im not sure I should tell you, but I cant keep it to myself.
My heart thudded. Just tell me.
She sighed, taking a deep breath. I overheard Mum talking to Aunt Carol. She she admitted there was no psychic.
I froze. What do you mean, no psychic?
Beths eyes filled with sympathy. Mum made it up. She was worried that with triplets Jack would have less time for her. She thought if she convinced him the girls would bring bad luck, hed stay close to her.
The room seemed to spin. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Anger surged so fiercely I had to set Grace down before my shaking hands gave me away.
That woman, I whispered, voice thick with rage, tore my family apart for her own selfish reasons.
Beth placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. Im so sorry, Emily. I dont think she realised hed walk out on you like this, but I thought you should know the truth.
I didnt sleep that night. Part of me wanted to confront my motherinlaw, to make her face what shed done. Another part wanted to call Jack, tell him the truth, and hope hed come back.
The next morning I dialled his number, hands trembling with each ring. Finally he answered.
Jack, its me, I said, voice steady. We need to talk.
He sighed. Emily, I dont know thats a good idea.
Just listen, I insisted, fighting to keep my voice from shaking. There was no psychic, Jack. Your mum made it all up.
There was a long silence. Then he spoke, calm but dismissive. Emily, I dont believe that. My mum wouldnt concoct something so serious.
She did, Jack, I said, anger breaking through. She told Carol herself. She lied to you because she was scared of losing you.
He scoffed, the sound sharp. Look, Em, that psychic has been right before. You dont know her like I do. My mother wouldnt lie about something this big.
My heart sank, but I pressed on. Jack, please think about it. Why would I lie? These are your family, your daughters. How can you just abandon them over a story?
He gave no answer, then sighed. Im sorry, Emily. I cant do this.
The line went dead. I stared at the phone, realizing hed made his choice. He was gone.
In the weeks that followed I did my best to adapt to life as a single mother. Every day was a struggle, balancing feeds, nappy changes and my own grief over the future Id imagined with Jack.
Slowly, things began to shift. Friends and family stepped in, bringing meals and holding the babies so I could rest. Through it all my love for Sophie, Lily and Grace only grew. Each smile, each little coo, each tiny hand wrapped around my finger filled me with a joy that almost erased the pain of Jacks absence.
Several weeks later there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find Jacks mother, palefaced and full of regret.
Emily, she began, voice shaking, I I didnt mean for any of this to happen.
I crossed my arms, trying to stay composed. You lied to him. You convinced him his own children were a curse.
Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded. I was afraid, Emily. I thought I thought hed forget about me if he had you and the girls. I never imagined hed actually leave.
My anger softened only a little. Your fear tore my family apart.
She lowered her head, crumpling. I know. Im so, so sorry.
I watched her for a moment, but my thoughts were already on my daughters, asleep in the next room. I have nothing more to say to you.
She left, and I closed the door, feeling a strange mix of relief and sadness.
A year later Jack turned up at my doorstep, looking like a ghost of the man I once loved. He pleaded, saying hed finally realised his mistake and wanted to come back, to be a family again.
But I knew better now. I looked him straight in the eye and shook my head. I already have a family, Jack. You werent there when we needed you. I dont need you now.
As I shut the door, a weight lifted. After all, it wasnt our daughters who ruined his lifeit was he who chose that path.
