**Diary Entry 8th March**
Lately, Ive been struggling. Work has been piling up, and Im always running late.
Emily tucked the children into bed and went to the kitchen to brew a cup of tea. James still wasnt home. These days, hes been so preoccupied with work, coming back later and later. I feel for himhes the sole breadwinner, after all. Back when we married, we agreed: Id take care of the home and the children, while hed provide for us. One after another, three little ones arrived. Each birth brought him such joyhed even say he wanted more.
But Im exhausted. Endless nappies, baby food, sleepless nights. I decided to stop at three.
James didnt come home until past midnight. He seemed cheerful. When I asked why he was late, he grinned. “Long day at the office, love. We all needed to unwind a bit.”
“My poor dear,” I smiled. “Let me fix you something to eat.”
“Dont bother. We grabbed a biteruined my appetite. Ill just head to bed.”
March 8thMothers Daywas approaching. I asked Mum to watch the children and headed to the shopping centre. I wanted to make it special this year: a romantic dinner, just the two of us. Mum happily took the kids.
Besides groceries and gifts, I decided to treat myself. It had been agesI felt guilty spending James money on clothes, and there was no time to shop anyway. The last thing Id bought was a housecoat, hardly fitting for a proper night out. I wandered into a boutique and picked out a few dresses to try.
As I slipped into the second one, I heard a familiar voice from the next cubicle.
“Mmm, Id like to take this off you right now.”
A womans laughter rang out.
“Patience, you scoundrel! Go pick something out for your wife instead.”
“What does she need? Shes knee-deep in nappies. The kids dont care if shes in ragsas long as theyre fed, changed, and their toys are put away! Ill get her a blender. Or a bread makerlet her rejoice in that!”
Ice flooded my veins. Moving quietly, I kept trying on dresses, straining to hear.
“If she asks where all your moneys gone,” the woman giggled, “a blender and bread maker dont cost that much”
“And why should I justify how I spend MY money? Im the one working while she sits at home wanting for nothing! I give her an allowancethats more than enough!”
Their voices faded as they left. Peeking out, I saw James at the till with a blonde, paying for something. Thenright there, in front of the cashierhe kissed her.
“Are you alright, madam?” The attendants voice snapped me back.
“Yes, yes, fine!” I handed her the dresses. “Ill take them all.”
At home, after Mum left and the children napped, I sat thinking. I never expected this betrayalnot just the affair, but the way he spoke of me. As if I were nothing.
I wanted to run, demand a divorce. But I forced myself to think.
“What then? Hell leave for his blonde, and Ill be alone with the kids, no income. Child support? Pennies, most likely. How will we survive?”
By evening, Id made my decision. James didnt come home late that nighthed had his fill of “love” elsewhere. All feeling for him had vanished. He was a stranger now. The only thing that unsettled me was the thought of him expecting affection. The very idea turned my stomach.
But he never approached meprobably satisfied for the day.
The next morning, I updated my CV and sent it out. Every day began with checking my inbox. Finally, an interview offerat his company, of all places. I hesitated, then went.
After two hours with the hiring manager, they offered me a decent position with flexible hours. The pay wasnt much at first, but enough to keep us afloat.
I floated home. Mum took one look at me and frowned.
“Mum, James is cheating!” I blurted, grinning.
She grabbed my hand, certain Id lost my mind.
“Emily, what nonsense! He works all day!”
“Not workhis mistress!” I spilled everything.
“And what will you do?”
“Divorce him! Ive got a job nowonce the kids are in nursery, Ill go full-time.”
“I wont stop you. Cheatings unforgivable. And the way he spoke of you” She squeezed my hand. “Ill help with the children.”
“Thank you, Mum.”
On the 7th, James came home late again. I didnt ask. He seemed thrown by my indifference.
“Late at the office again, love”
“Go to bed,” I cut in.
The next morning, as I fed the children breakfast, James presented me with a gifta bread maker.
“To make life easier, darling!” He leaned in for a kiss. I recoiled.
“Ive a gift for you too.”
Bewildered, he followed me to the hallway where two packed suitcases waited.
“Im divorcing you. No need to hide your mistress anymore.”
“How did you?”
“The changing room. While you were buying gifts for her. And take that bread maker to herI dont need it.”
Cornered, he turned vicious.
“Jealous, are you? Shes beautiful, passionatenothing like you! Youve let yourself go! Living off me, drowning in kids! And who are you to question how I spend my money? Youre just a greedy, petty”
“Im not jealous,” I said calmly. “Leave.”
The next day, I filed for divorce and child support. A week later, his mother banged on my door.
“You gold-digging trash! Draining him dry! Drop the maintenancehe owes you nothing!”
“He owes his children,” I shot back. “If his mistress minds, thats his problem. Hes their father too.”
“What will you do without his money? You had those brats just to leech off him! Well, it wont lasthell slash his salary, and youll get scraps!”
“Not possible.” I pointed to the door. “Leave before I call the police.”
Cursing, she stormed off.
Months passed. The children started nursery. When the youngest enrolled, I took on full-time hours.
“Hello.” His voice at my desk was tired. “Can we talk?”
“Sorry, James. Im busy,” I said, not looking up.
“Lunch, then?”
I finally met his eyes. He looked worn out. Rumor was his blonde had tossed him out the moment the maintenance order came through. But I felt nothing.
“No, James. We have nothing to say.”
