Off The Record
My Wife Left Me After I Lost My Job—Two Years Later, I Saw Her Again And She Couldn’t Stop Crying
My wife abandoned me and our children two years ago when I was at my lowest. I saw her crying and alone in a café after battling to get my family back on track. Her next statement totally caught me off guard.
I was left standing there with our four-year-old twins, Max and Lily, when Anna left our apartment with just a bag and a chilly “I can’t do this anymore,” feeling.
My heart was broken, but not as much as my dignity. She didn’t even give me another look. A switch seems to have flipped. We were a family one minute, and then I was by myself with two children and a ton of debts the next.
We lived in one of the most costly cities in the nation, and all of this had occurred as a result of my losing my work. I worked as a software programmer for a computer business that promised high profits, but it went bankrupt before we realized it due to some unethical dealings. Overnight, I went from earning six figures to receiving jobless benefits.
I noticed Anna’s disappointment in her eyes the day I broke the news to her. One of the most well-groomed women I had ever seen, she worked as a marketing executive. I never noticed a wrinkle in her clothing or her hair out of place, even after we were married.
What I used to adore about her was that she even appeared like a real-life princess when giving birth to our children. However, I never imagined that she would leave when things got rough.
It was a terrible first year. I felt like I was drowning from the overwhelming loneliness, the never-ending financial concerns, and the weariness of balancing work and childcare.
I delivered groceries during the day and drove at night for ride-sharing services. I managed daycare at the same time. Heartbroken, Max and Lily were always inquiring about their mother.
The four-year-olds didn’t appear to grasp when I tried to explain to them why Mommy was gone for a bit.
Fortunately, my parents were close by. Although they were unable to provide financial assistance, they assisted with the twins at night and whenever I needed them. They were already retired and finding it difficult to keep up with the growing expenses of life.
But Lily and Max were my lifeline. I was kept going by their small voices saying, “We love you, Daddy,” and their little arms around me at the end of a long day. I couldn’t disappoint them. They were entitled to at least one parent who was prepared to put everything on their shoulders.
I’m glad things changed a lot in the second year following Anna’s departure. The client was so pleased with my skills that he gave me a full-time remote job with his cybersecurity company after I secured a freelance coding gig.
Although it wasn’t six figures, the pay was good. After we relocated to a more comfortable apartment, I resumed taking care of myself. I cooked actual meals, went to the gym, and established a schedule for the kids. We were thriving now, not simply getting by.
Then, precisely two years after Anna’s departure, I ran into her again.
Max and Lily were at preschool, and I was at a café close to our new home, catching up on work. It was a pleasant location to concentrate because of the aroma of roasted coffee beans and the quiet murmur of discussion.
I was surprised to see her as I looked up.
Tears were streaming down her face as she sat by herself at a corner table, head down. She didn’t resemble the polished, self-assured marketing executive with the fashionable clothing and flawless hair I remembered.
No, she appeared tired out. Her hair was lifeless, her coat was worn, and the heavy circles beneath her eyes were a testament to her restless nights.
My heart constricted for a second. When we were at our lowest, she was the woman who left us.
She had left to improve her life without having to care for twins and an unemployed husband, right? I would infer that from her brief, icy statement at the time.
She wanted more, and we were a burden.
What then took place? What was causing her to cry in a fancy coffee shop? I should not have cared. I should ignore her, get my drink down, and go right now. After all, she was the mother of my kids.
I wasn’t heartless like her. I still appeared to be concerned.
She must have seen my intense gaze because she raised her head. Her expression changed from shock to humiliation as our eyes locked.
I could have remained where I was, but before I could think about it, my body moved. I left my laptop and cup on the table and went to the woman who had destroyed our house.
As I cleared my throat, I said, “Anna,” “What happened?”
Her gaze flitted about as though seeking a way out. However, there was none. “David,” she said as she shifted her hands. “I… I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Clearly,” I remarked, moving the chair away from her. “You abandoned us. You left without saying sorry. And now you’re crying in a café two years later? What’s happening?”
She twisted her fingers till her knuckles turned white as she glanced down at the table. When she eventually uttered, “I made a mistake,” she exhaled deeply, as though confessing something terrible and embarrassing.
I crossed my arms and leaned back. “An error? Do you believe that abandoning your spouse and children was merely an error?”
Her eyes welled up with new tears, and her head trembled. “I am aware that it’s more than a mistake. However, I believed I I believed I could perform better by myself. Everything was too much. the expenses and uncertainty about how to make ends meet. The life we had living was beyond my financial means.”
“I know,” I said with a nod.
“I believed I might find a better job, a more satisfying life, a better I’m not sure.”
“A better man?” I recommended.
Once more, her head trembled. “No, no. I don’t know why, but it was wrong to leave you. Almost immediately after, I lost my job. After a few months, my parents stopped sending me money, so I had to rely on my savings to get by. When I needed them the most, the people I believed to be my friends vanished.”
She started crying, and I just stared. My feelings were scattered everywhere. Since karma had taken effect practically instantly, I felt a tiny feeling of vindication, but I also felt sorry for and offended. If she had believed in me and our family, we could have faced this together and come out stronger.
“I miss you,” she sniffed and croaked. “I want to come back.”
Her words lingered in my mind. Because I understood why she said those things, regardless of how sorry I felt for her.
With composure, I said, “You miss me now that you have nothing,” “Convenient timing, don’t you think?”
Anna’s hand hovered close to me as she stretched across the table. “Please, David. I’ll stop at nothing to make things right, even though I know I don’t deserve it. I’ve been switching between temporary jobs and staying in inexpensive flats. I’ve had some time to reflect. I now understand what I lost.”
I withdrew my hand. “Max and Lily weren’t on your mind, were they? Not every two years. You haven’t even brought them up since I sat down, in fact.”
The more I considered it, the more repulsed I became.
She recoiled as if I had given her a slap. Whispering, “I thought about them too,” she said. “I simply felt embarrassed. I had no idea how to return.”
I gave a headshake. “Anna, you made your decision. Without you, we have created a life. It’s an excellent one, too. The children are content. I’m content.”
She said, “I’ll do anything,” in a desperate tone. “Please, David. Give me a chance, please.”
I turned away from her and stood up. “No,” I replied. “This choice was yours. I notice that you haven’t reflected despite everything that has happened to you. You are only concerned about yourself. My children need someone who will prioritize them.”
I grabbed my laptop, went back to my table, and walked out. As I pushed through the door, the bell above it jingled sharply, but not before Anna’s tears reverberated throughout the silent café.
I was struck by how much Max and Lily meant to me during supper that night. My daughter proudly showed me a drawing she had done while my son was telling me about a worm he had discovered at school.
“Look, Daddy!” Lily handed me the painting and said, “It’s us at the park.”
I grinned. “It’s perfect, sweetheart.”
Anna ended up with nothing after giving up this.
However, I thought about the repercussions of leaving their mother after putting the children to bed and heading to my room. I had a gut feeling that it could be good for them to have her back in their life.
Perhaps I would allow her to view them if she ever inquired about them. Only if I see genuine change in her. I had to keep them safe for the time being.
Children as young as mine notice things, despite what you might assume. But as long as they believe that someone will always be there, they are resilient. I could see it in their easy affection and laughter. As a result, our relationship with Anna was over.
But things happen in life. I would wait and concentrate on providing my kids with the safe, nurturing environment they so well deserve.
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