28October2025
Dear Diary,
Its hard to believe that Mark and I tied the knot just over a decade ago. We were both in our midthirties, he was a senior manager at a big firm in the City, and I ran a small beauty salon in Croydon. We soon had two children, I went on maternity leave and then gave up my job entirely. Money never seemed to be an issue because his salary was more than enough.
Mark has always been a careerdriven sort, often away on business trips and spending his free evenings with his mother, Margaret. Margaret, a former stage actress, can put on quite a performance when shes angry or feigning illnessshe does it mainly to keep her sons attention on her.
I remember one family gathering when Margaret turned to me and said, Mark belongs to me; it doesnt matter that youre his wife. To him, the family is only me. You should understand, youre a mother yourself. No matter what happens, you must always support your husband. Those words have lodged themselves in my mind ever since.
The next morning I asked Mark to explain. He tried to brush off his mothers behaviour as a bad joke, but I could see the strain behind his smile.
All good things, however, come to an end. Last year Mark was made redundant and fell into a drinking habit to drown his sorrow. I had to return to the salon to earn a wage again.
I clung to the hope that someday he would see sense and return to the man I once loved. That hope proved naïve. Things only went downhill. I filed for divorce and Mark moved in with my mother in Brighton.
Relief washed over me at firstone less mouth to feed. But a month later Margaret called, her voice sharp: Have you forgotten what I always tell you? You must always help your spouse! My pension isnt enough, so I expect you to send money each month to support Mark.
I was taken aback by her audacity. I told her I would apply for child maintenance because its the fathers duty to support his children. She snapped back, accusing me of driving her son into this mess.
Her words left a bitter taste, and I hung up. Strangely enough, I still love my exhusband, yet I have no idea how to live with that feeling.
Sometimes I wonder if Ill ever find a peace that isnt tangled up in obligations and old promises. For now, Im just trying to keep my head above water, one day at a time.
