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He left me with three kids and elderly parents – took off to Spain with his lover.
I couldn’t hold onto him
It all started on my birthday.
At the time, I lived in a small village, and I didn’t have much money. The city shop windows were full of beautiful things that caught my eye.
I particularly fell for a pair of sandals.
I stood there, admiring them, imagining how they would look on my feet as I walked down the main street, turning heads.
Then someone nudged me with their elbow.
I turned around—there stood a man, smiling.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?” he nodded towards the sandals.
“Yes…” I murmured, still gazing at the display.
“Let’s have a coffee. If I buy you those sandals, will you go on a date with me?”
I knew I must have looked naive and silly in his eyes, but I didn’t care.
“I will,” I responded.
I craved a gift. I wanted to feel special, if only for one evening.
We sat in a café; he ordered cake for me, and I shared my story.
I told him my parents had passed away.
That part was true.
I actually buried my father, but as for my mother…
I “buried” her in my mind in childhood because she abandoned me as a baby.
I told him this in a way to evoke sympathy.
And it worked.
That’s how it all began.
I started coming to the city more often, and we would meet.
His name was Jack. He brought me into his life, showed me attention.
First it was the sandals, then dresses, jewelry, lovely perfumes.
But no, I didn’t become his lover for the gifts.
I loved him.
I thought he loved me too.
But I was foolish.
I made a mistake, and got pregnant.
I was ready to hear anything:
— We need to break up.
— Sort it out yourself.
— Have an abortion.
But he said something else:
— Move in with me. We’ll raise the child together.
I couldn’t believe my luck.
My mother ruined my life
We got married.
I was sure life had finally given me a chance.
Then one day, there was a knock at the door.
I opened it and nearly fainted.
My mother stood there, like we’d seen each other just yesterday.
Turns out a neighbor had let slip where I was living now.
She came to make amends.
And Jack learned the truth.
He found out I lied.
And in that moment, his love vanished.
He yelled, called me a small-town fraud, asked if my father would rise from his grave since I could so easily “remove” people from my life.
And he kicked us out.
Me, my mother, and her cabbage.
I believed him again – and was wrong again
I returned to my grandparents’ house.
I sent my mother away.
And I was left alone with my child.
But Jack came back.
— Let’s get back together, – he said. – We have a son, after all.
And I believed him.
Naively, I thought love would win.
But he didn’t bring me back to his flat.
We settled in his parents’ old house – they were elderly and needed care.
I agreed.
I did everything for him, his parents, our son.
Then I got pregnant again.
One day during an argument, he reminded me harshly:
— Remember, you’re just a guest here!
Those words cut deep.
Yet I stayed.
I believed love could endure the trials.
When our second child was born, he said money was tight, his business had failed.
Now we were equal: I had nothing, and he had nothing too.
Then our third child came along.
I thought nothing would change now, and we’d remain together no matter what.
He started working more and more. Leaving early, coming home late.
I thought he was working hard for the family.
I didn’t see everything falling apart.
Spain – a ticket to a new life… but not for me
One day he said:
— I can’t live like this anymore. There’s no future here. I’m moving abroad.
I believed him.
He was worn out, despondent, exhausted.
I even agreed—let him go, let him try to earn money.
But then I stumbled upon the truth by accident.
There were two tickets for a flight to Spain.
One was in his name.
The other was for a woman he’d been involved with for years.
I understood everything.
But I couldn’t stop him.
He left.
And I stayed.
With three children.
With his parents, who by now were part of my life.
In an empty house with a heart full of pain.
I don’t know how to keep going.
I just hope that one day this won’t hurt so much.