My husband turned up to collect me and our three newborns and as soon as he laid eyes on them he told me to leave the babies at the hospital.
After years of hoping, Emily finally saw her dream become reality: three perfect baby girls. The next morning, however, Jack walked out, insisting the babies were cursed.
I stared at my three little angels, my heart swelling as I cradled them. Poppy, Daisy and Ivy were each a miracle, the result of years of wishes, prayers and sleepless nights.
Now they lay in their bassinets, tiny faces serene. A tear slipped down my cheek as I realised just how fiercely I already loved them.
Then I glanced up. Jack had just come back from popping out to the shops, but something was off. He looked pale, his eyes refused to meet mine, and he hovered by the door as if he wasnt sure he even wanted to be in the same room.
Jack? I said softly, patting the chair beside my bed. Come sit. Look at them we did it.
Yeah theyre lovely, he muttered, barely glancing at the girls. He shuffled a little closer but still avoided my gaze.
Jack, I whispered, voice trembling, whats happening? Youre scaring me.
He drew a deep breath and blurted out, Emily, I dont think I dont think we can keep them.
The floor seemed to drop out from under me. What? Jack, what are you on about? Theyre our daughters!
He winced, looking away as if my face might hurt him. My mum she went to see a psychic, he said, voice barely a whisper.
I blinked, unsure Id heard right. A psychic? Jack, you cant be serious.
She said she said these babies our girls He paused, voice shaking. She said theyd bring nothing but bad luck, that theyd ruin my life and be the reason I die.
I gasped, trying to wrap my head around it. Jack, thats madness. Theyre just babies!
He lowered his head, fear plain on his face. Mum swears by that psychic. Shes been right before, and shes never been so certain about anything.
Anger rose, hot and sharp. So because of some ridiculous prediction you want to abandon them? Just leave them here?
He stared at me, guilt and terror mingling. If you want to bring them home fine, he whispered. But I wont be there. Im sorry, Emily.
I stared, shocked. Youre serious, arent you? Youll walk away from your own daughters because of a story Mum heard?
He said nothing, shoulders slumped.
I took a shaky breath, trying to stay together. If you walk out that door, Jack, you dont come back. I wont let you do this to our girls.
He looked at me one last time, torn, then turned and walked to the door. I Im sorry, Em, he said quietly, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.
I sat there, heart pounding, mind reeling. A nurse reentered, saw my expression, and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder as I gathered my things.
I looked down at my babies, tears blurring my vision. Dont worry, girls, I whispered, stroking each tiny head. Im here. Ill always be here.
Holding them close, a fierce determination grew inside me. I had no clue how Id manage alone, but one thing was clear: I would never leave my girls. Not now, not ever.
Weeks slipped by after Jacks departure, each day harder than the last. Looking after three newborns on my own was overwhelming.
Some mornings I felt I was barely hanging on, but I kept pushing for Poppy, Daisy and Ivy. They became my whole world, and even though Jacks abandonment stung, I forced myself to focus on them.
One afternoon my sisterinlaw, Beth, dropped by to help. She was the only member of Jacks family willing to stay in touch, and I hoped she might eventually persuade him to return. Beth seemed uneasy.
Beth bit her lip, eyes pleading. Emily, I heard something Im not sure I should say it, but I cant keep it to myself.
My heart thumped. Just tell me.
She sighed, taking a breath. I overheard Mum talking to Aunt Carol. She she admitted there was no psychic.
I froze. What do you mean, no psychic?
Beths eyes softened. Mum made it up. She was scared that with triplets Jack would have less time for her, so she thought if she convinced him the girls were bad luck, hed stay close to her.
The room seemed to spin. I felt a surge of fury so fierce I had to set Ivy down before my shaking hands gave me away.
That woman, I whispered, voice thick with rage, tore my family apart for her own selfish reasons.
Beth placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. Im so sorry, Emily. I dont think she realised hed walk out on you, but you deserve to know the truth.
I lay awake that night, torn between confronting my motherinlaw and calling Jack to tell him the truth.
The next morning I dialled Jack, hands trembling as each ring stretched on. Finally he answered.
Jack, its me, I said, voice steady. We need to talk.
He sighed. Emily, Im not sure thats a good idea.
Just listen, I pressed, fighting the tremor in my voice. There was no psychic, Jack. Your mum made it all up.
Silence stretched. Then he replied, calm but dismissive. Emily, I dont believe that. Mum wouldnt fabricate something so serious.
She did, Jack, I snapped. She told Carol herself. Beth heard it. She lied because she was afraid of losing you.
He scoffed, sharp and hurtful. Look, Em, that psychics been right before. You dont know her like I do. My mum wouldnt lie about something this big.
My heart sank, but I pressed on. Jack, think about it. Why would I lie? These are your daughters. How can you abandon them over a baseless story?
He stayed silent, then sighed. Im sorry, Emily. I cant do this.
The line went dead. I stared at the phone, the finality of his choice sinking in.
In the weeks that followed I did my best as a single mum. Every day was a juggling act of feeds, nappies and grief over the life Id imagined with Jack.
Slowly, friends and family stepped in, bringing meals, holding the babies while I rested, and reminding me that love can flourish even in the toughest of storms. Each smile, each little coo, each tiny hand that wrapped around my finger filled me with a joy that almost erased Jacks absence.
A few weeks later there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find Jacks mother, pale and eyes brimming with regret.
Emily, she began, voice shaking, I I didnt mean for any of this to happen.
I crossed my arms, trying to stay composed. You lied to him. You convinced him his own children were a curse.
Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded. I was frightened, Emily. I thought I thought hed forget about me if he had you and the girls. I never imagined hed actually leave.
My anger softened just a touch. Your fear tore my family apart.
She lowered her head, crumpling. I know. Im so, so sorry.
I watched her for a moment, then turned toward the next room where my daughters slept. I have nothing else to say to you.
She left, and I closed the door, feeling a strange mix of relief and sadness.
A year later Jack turned up at my doorstep, looking like the ghost of the man I once loved. He pleaded, saying he finally realised his mistake and wanted to come back, to be a family again.
But Id learned the hard way. I met his eyes and shook my head. I already have a family, Jack. You werent there when we needed you. I dont need you now.
As I shut the door, a weight lifted. After all, it wasnt my daughters who ruined his life he did that himself.
