Exactly 10 years ago my life was divided into “before” and “after”. I lived with Oliver for 30 happy years, we had children, grandchildren. But one day he silently packed his things, did not even look me in the eye.
– I am leaving you. I have another woman. And I feel happier with her. I’m leaving you the apartment and the car. It’s just… You’re a wonderful woman, but not like Kira. Goodbye.
It took me a long time to come to my senses. In anger, I smashed our family portrait, burned all our photos and threw away all his gifts. I only kept his wedding ring. I do not know why.
We had known each other since school days. I remember how my hands were trembling when I entered a new class. And here he is – Oliver, sitting so funny in glasses. We sat together. He helped me with everything. He would take my schoolbag home, let me cheat on a math test, treat me with chocolate and protect me from bullies. No one in the class was friends with me, except Oliver.
And then we grew up. And “adult” life began – dates, discos, walks until the morning. I felt so good with him that I did not notice how quickly time passed. We decided to enter the same university together. However, at first my parents were categorically against us living together. They said we would have time to do something stupid.
And now I remember how Oliver crawled up the fire escape and held daisies in his teeth, because it was already curfew. And how he waited for me after the exams and helped me prepare for the session. And how he proposed to me at the graduation ceremony.
Of course, not everything was so great with us. In the 4th year Oliver’s parents died. I have never seen him like that. He was exhausted, did not want to get out of bed. But I was there for him. I helped as much as I could, even if I had to miss classes at the university. I looked after their house, sorted things. I heard Oliver lock himself in the bathroom at night and cry bitterly.
Or the children. We had no stable job, crisis… and then a positive pregnancy test. It was so untimely. I was scared and did not know what to do next. But Oliver didn’t seem upset by the news:
– “Well, we’ll figure something out. In the meantime, you can’t worry. You are carrying my baby under your heart!
He specially took extra hours at work, went on night shifts. He was at home only for 3 hours – he would take a nap, eat and then go to work. I worked part-time as a math tutor for neighbors. The money was barely enough for food. And we also needed a crib, clothes, toys, doctors…
But all this is in the past. Such difficulties only strengthened our love. But it seems that I was wrong.
I knew this Kira, a young intern who came to Oliver’s firm 3 months ago. She made terrible coffee and did not follow the papers. She also dressed stupidly and not beautifully. I would even say vulgar. These girls are called “huntresses”. They hunt for adult men, such as those in age. Who have a car, an apartment and money. They’ll do anything and live like queens.
But Oliver really liked Kira. Now I understood what it really meant when my husband said “I will stay late at work” – he was walking with his mistress.
It took me almost 10 months to get out of such depression. Medications, sessions with a psychologist, support of children. They helped me especially. Every evening they came to visit with my favorite sweets – eclairs with banana filling.
And two weeks ago someone knocked on the door. I was just waiting for my friend, we had not seen each other for a long time. I didn’t look through the peephole and opened the door. But there he was on the threshold. Oliver.
– Will you let me in? – the man asked quietly. I just stood at the door and pointed to the kitchen.
We were silent for about 10 minutes. He brought my daisies, but now these flowers disgust me.
– I hate daisies. Now I like peonies. No one asked you to come over.
– I’m sorry. I just want to get back to you.
– Back? Ha, you think I’m gonna welcome you back with open arms now?!
– I have cancer. I only have a few months left. The doctors say there’s no chance. I realized that this is how God punished me for that act. And now I want to fix everything while there is still a chance and time.
I noticed that he seemed to fade away. He lost weight, his hands trembled, and he was breathing heavily. He’s wasted. Almost no hair on his head, only purple spots.
We sat and remembered our younger years. I felt that Oliver was very sorry.
– I want you to take me back. To see my children, grandchildren.
I just nodded my head. And now I do not know what to do. After all, 10 years ago he exchanged me for a young mistress. And here at his last breath he wants to return everything. As if there was no betrayal, no 10 years of silence… Nothing.
What would you advise a woman to do in such a situation? Should she give her husband a second chance or forget about him?
