He Never Wanted to Marry His Mother Made Him
“Tim, will you look after Alfie?” called Evelyn toward the bedroom as she adjusted her scarf before the mirror. “I’ll be back by evening, around six. Dont forget his lunchits ready in the fridge, just needs heating.”
Saturday had turned unexpectedly chaotic. A crisis at work forced her manager to call her in, and no one else could handle it. Evelyn agreed without hesitation. The job didnt just pay the billsit made her feel valued.
Five-year-old Alfie was happily occupied in his room, murmuring to himself as he pushed toy cars across the floor. A perfectly ordinary weekend morning. She double-checked her bag, found her keys, and was about to leave when Timothy emerged from the bedroom.
“No,” he said flatly.
Evelyn froze, her hand hovering on the door handle. She turned, staring blankly at her husband.
“What?”
“I wont be watching the boy today,” Timothy repeated, walking past her toward the coat rack. “Ive got plans.”
She couldnt believe what she was hearing. Six years of marriage, and nevernot oncehad he refused time with their son. Timothy had always been the picture of a devoted fatheror so shed thought. She stood motionless, struggling to process his words, while he slid on his jacket, slipped into his shoes, and headed for the door without another glance.
“Tim, I dont understand. Whats happened?” She stepped toward him, but he sidestepped her like she was nothing more than an obstacle.
“Nothings happened,” he muttered, and then he was gone.
The door clicked shut behind him. Evelyn stood in the hallway, clutching the strap of her bag, her insides twisted into knots. She had to be at work in an hour. One hour. She snatched up her phone, fingers trembling as she dialed her mothers number.
“Mum, Im so sorryI need your help. Urgently. Can you come watch Alfie?”
Thankfully, her mother didnt ask questions.
Evelyn did the calculationsher mother wouldnt arrive in time. She rushed next door to Mrs. Thompson, the elderly woman across the hall whod helped them out before. She knocked, desperation in her eyes as the door opened.
“Mrs. Thompson, pleasecould you watch Alfie for half an hour, just until Mum gets here? Works in chaos, and Timwell, Tim just left.”
Mrs. Thompson sighed but agreed. Evelyn hurried back, quickly explained to Alfie that hed stay with the neighbor for a bit, then dashed out. The whole commute felt surreal. What had just happened? Had they argued without her realizing? She searched her memory of the past daysnothing came to mind. Just last night, theyd had dinner together, watched a film, even discussed plans for the week.
At work, she moved through tasks mechanically. Her thoughts kept circling back to that morning.
She tried texting Timothy:
“Where are you?”
“Whats going on?”
“Why would you do this?”
No reply. The phone stayed silent. She checked the screen every few minutesnothing.
That evening, she hurried home and thanked her mother profusely before sending her off.
“Thank you so much, Mum. I dont know what Id do without you.”
Her mother stroked her hair, like she used to when Evelyn was little.
“Its alright, love. But tell mewhat happened? Wheres Tim?”
“I dont know. He walked out this morning and hasnt come back.”
She saw her mother out. The flat was oppressively silent. She peeked into Alfies roomhe was fast asleep, clutching his stuffed bear. So small, so vulnerable. She ran a hand through his hair, kissed his forehead, and slipped out quietly.
Timothy didnt return until two hours later. By then, shed showered, changed, and sipped chamomile tea to steady herself. The sound of his key in the lock made her stiffen. He walked in as casually as hed leftshrugged off his coat, kicked off his shoes, headed to the bedroom without a word.
Evelyn stood in the doorway, watching. Fury simmered beneath her skin. Timothy didnt look up from his phone. She stepped directly into his path.
“What the hell was that?”
He lifted his gaze, indifferentthe kind of look youd give a stranger on the street. Not your wife. Not your childs father.
“Im tired of pretending,” he said.
Evelyn went still. Her pulse pounded in her temples. She slowly lowered herself onto the edge of the armchair, never taking her eyes off him.
“Pretending what?”
“This. The family. The marriage. You. The boy.”
She searched his face for any hint of a joke. There was nonejust cold detachment.
“What are you saying?” she forced out, fingers digging into the armrests.
“Exactly what I said.” He shrugged. “I never wanted to marry you, Evelyn. My mother made me. Said you were kind, good, the right sort. That Id be happy. Ive put up with it for six years. But I cant anymore. This marriage is suffocating me.”
She stared, tears welling but refusing to fall. Not now. Not in front of him.
“Then why wait so long? If you were miserable, why not leave sooner?”
A flicker of irritation crossed his face.
“For you. The boys older nowyou can manage alone. If Id left earlier, it wouldve been harder for you. So I waited.”
She laugheda harsh, bitter sound. She looked at him like he was a stranger.
“How generous of you,” she spat, wiping at her eyes.
“You should be grateful!” he snapped, raising his voice. “I never cheated. I was faithful. Do you have any idea how hard that was for me?”
“Grateful? For what? For not betraying me? I didnt drag you to the altar, Tim! You proposed. You got down on one knee. You said you loved me. Or was that your mothers idea too?”
He shot up from the sofa, nearly shouting:
“She pressured me! You dont understand! She said Id regret letting someone like you slip away. That Id be sorry later.”
“And are you?” Evelyn stepped closer. “Are you sorry you married me? The kind, good, proper girl?”
“Im sorry I ever got into this!” He flung a hand toward Alfies room. “I wanted something else. Something different. And instead, I got you, your nagging, and a kid I never planned for.”
“Alfie was unplanned?” Her voice turned to ice. “Are you seriously calling our son a mistake?”
“Thats not what I meant.” He tried to backpedal, but she wouldnt let him.
“Yes, it is. You think we ruined your life. So tell mewhy stay? Why not leave when you found out I was pregnant? Why keep playing the loving husband and father?”
“Because I had to!” His fists clenched. “Because my mother said I couldnt abandon you with a child. That itd disgrace the family. That everyone would judge me. So I stayed. But I wont put up with it anymore.”
Evelyn exhaled. Disappointment crushed her chest.
“Get out,” she said quietly.
“What?”
“Get out of my home. Out of our lives.” Her voice rose. “Take your things and go. And dont come back. Ever. Alfie and I will manage without you.”
Timothy stared, stunned. Hed expected tears, beggingnot this cold, resolute dismissal.
“Evelyn, lets just talk”
“Go!” she screamed, the raw pain in her voice making him flinch.
He packed in silenceclothes shoved into a bag, documents snatched up. She stood by the door, unmoving. When he brushed past her into the hall, she didnt look at him. The door slammed shut.
She staggered to the bed, buried her face in the pillow, and finally let the tears come. They poured out, endless, as if her grief would burn her alive.
She cried until she had nothing left. By dawn, she lay drained, staring at the ceiling. Then something shifted. In the next room, Alfie slepther son, innocent in all of this. She rose, splashed cold water on her face, studied her reflection. Swollen eyes, pale cheeks. But she was alive. Shed survive.
For Alfie. For herself. Evelyn would manage. Trust in people had shatteredthat couldnt be undone. But it didnt matter. The only thing that did was that she and her boy were together.
