**Diary Entry**
*September 1st*
“Natalie, tell your son I wont be living with him anymore,” I said, my voice steady.
“And who do you think youll live with instead?” Natalies mother scoffed. “Whod want a woman with a child? I dont see a queue of princes waiting at the gate.”
I packed Sophies things methodicallyher warm jumper, her shoes. My own belongings were already in the bag, just the essentials. The rest could wait.
After a sleepless night, Id made my decision. Kirill and I were over.
I heard him come home, shuffling into the bedroom, then peering into the nursery. I pretended to sleep. In the morning, before leaving for work, he lingered outside Sophies door, hesitating. Hed postponed the conversation for tonight.
But there would be no conversation. In half an hour, Id call a taxi and take Sophie to my parents. After last night, I never wanted to see him again.
Id grown used to him coming home drunk on Fridays. But yesterday was Wednesday. Worse, Id asked him to come home early to watch Sophie while I met my friend Emma, whod promised to help me find remote work.
Seeing the state he was in, I couldnt leave Sophie with him. I called Emma to cancel.
“Who are you calling?” Kirill demanded. “What meeting?”
“Emma. I was supposed to meet her, but I cant leave Sophie with you like this.”
“Why not?”
“Look at yourself in the mirror. Go sleep it offyouve got work tomorrow.” I turned toward the kitchen.
“Stop!” He grabbed my arm. “Whats wrong with how I am, eh? Had a few pints with the lads at Vics birthdaywhats the big deal? Princess!” He sneered. “Ill come home how I like!”
I tried to pull free. “Let go! Youre hurting me!”
He staggered when I yanked my arm away. “Oh, thats how it is?” His fist struck my nose before he could stop himself.
He looked shocked. I didnt give him time to speak. I walked straight to Sophies room.
“Princess,” he muttered again before storming out.
That wordhis mothers favourite insult. Natalie had never liked me.
“Twenty-one and still leeching off her parents! Studying! At her age, I already had one kid and another on the way!”
“A husband, a home, responsibilities! But shes too good for thatprincess! Youll regret this, Kirill. Shouldve picked a simpler girl.”
My parents hadnt approved either.
“Lillian, why the rush? Kirills not the last man on earth! In love? Fine, date him. Live together if you mustthough you know how I feel about that.”
“But marriage is serious. Are you ready to spend your life with him? Look at his family. Then decide.”
I did decide. And I was wrong. I realised within six months. I shouldve left. But first, I was ashamed to admit my parents were right. Second, I was already pregnant.
Sophies arrival changed nothing. Kirill still believed housework and childcare were my job alone.
My exhaustion, Sophies teethingnone of it mattered if dinner wasnt ready or the flat was untidy.
“Other moms manage fine. What do you do all daynap?”
“How hard is it to pop to Tesco and cook?”
“Sophies teethingI cant cook while holding her! Order takeaway, or make something yourself!”
The rose-tinted glasses shattered. Mum had been rightI shouldve looked closer at his family before marrying him.
I nearly left a few times. Hed promise to change. Id believe him.
But last night, when he raised his hand to me, I knew I couldnt stay.
Yes, facing my parents was humiliating. But living with a man whod hit me? Unthinkable. And I wouldnt let Sophie grow up in that house.
Mum spotted the taxi pulling up. “Robert, Lillians herewith bags. Go help her.”
When I stepped inside and removed my sunglasses, they froze. My left eye was swollen, a bruise spreading beneath it.
“Kirill did this?” Mum gasped.
I nodded.
“Ill sort him out,” Dad growled, heading for the door.
“No, Dad. Ill punish him my way. Just help me get Sophies things from his flat.”
Dad and Uncle Jack fetched our belongings. Then Dad took me to A&E.
“If you press charges, this wont be enough,” Uncle Jack explained. “Youll need a specialist report.”
“Well sort it tomorrow,” Dad said.
Kirill came home that evening with flowers and a toy for Sophie. But the flat was empty.
He called. Id turned off my phone. He rang Mum instead.
“Yes, Lillian and Sophie are here. Dont come roundRoberts fists are itching. Shell file for divorce herself.”
He kept calling. Even waited outside Dads house. But I ignored him. If I took Sophie outside, we stayed in the garden.
The divorce papers arrived a week later. Then Natalie showed up.
“I wont speak to her,” I told Mum.
“You should,” Mum said. “Clear the air.”
“So, youre divorcing him?” Natalie sneered. “Cant have your way, so you run?”
“Your son hit me,” I said.
“You provoked him! A man comes home tipsydont nag, let him sleep it off! But no, you had to push him. And now youll leave? Abandon your child?”
“Natalie, I wont live with your son. Tell him that.”
“And wholl take you? A single mum? I dont see princes waiting.”
“Ill manage alone.”
“Dont expect his flat or child support!”
“I dont want his flat. But Ill claim supportand the court will side with me.”
They did. The divorce was fastthe medical report sealed it. Kirill was ordered to pay child support, plus £400 a month for me until Sophie turned three.
Five years later, on Sophies first day of school, we stood at the gatesMum, Dad, and me.
“Will Daddy come?” Sophie asked.
“Hell be here. He textedhes close.” I waved at a tall man scanning the crowd.
But it wasnt Kirill. Three years ago, I married Alexander, a colleague. Now, were expecting another child.
As for Kirill? Still alone. There were women he liked, women who liked him. But whenever things got serious, someone always mentioned why his first wife left.
Small towns talk. And his nickname”Armchair Boxer”stuck.
Maybe someday, a woman will overlook it. But so far, none have. The boomerang effectsome dont believe in it, but here we are.