Off The Record
When I Was Pregnant, My Husband Woke Me Up In The Middle Of The Night. I I Filed For Divorce The Next Morning
I was soundly sleeping at thirty-four weeks pregnant when my husband’s frantic, nighttime shouts startled me. His reason destroyed my life, and by morning, I had no choice but to file for divorce.
My heart is heavy with grief as I wait for my kid to arrive. With two weeks to go until my due date, I can’t decide whether to get a divorce or welcome my little bundle of joy into the world. This is the tale of how one fateful night altered everything, and my name is Mary.
Daniel and I have been married for five years, and we have had a wonderful marriage, or so I believed.
My husband used to tell me, “You’re being ridiculous, Mary,” if I was frightened about a fire. “There’s a smoke alarm, what’s the worst that could happen?”
However, I was unable to get over my dread.
“My Mom’s house burned down when I was 17. We lost our pet dog, Grampa. The smell of smoke still haunts me, Dan,” I once told Daniel, but he just patted my hand and said not to worry.
I could still smell the smoke, hear the sirens, and recall being terrified as my parents and I crawled out from under the smoke that fatal night.
The rescue team and our neighbors were able to save us, but we lost everything. Daniel kept assuring me, but it didn’t ease my fears—the trauma still lingers.
I’d been checking everything twice before bed lately. I check to make sure there are no lit candles, the stove is unplugged, and all of the electrical outlets are off.
Daniel would become irritated, but I had no control over it. My head and heart refused to listen. I had to make sure our infant was protected and that we were safe.
“We’re not going to have a house fire, Mary. You’re just being paranoid,” Daniel would say. But I knew what I felt.
He and his friends arrived home from work two nights ago. They caused quite a commotion as they lounged in the living room.
I drew him aside and told him I needed some quiet time, so I requested that to send them away. Before the baby arrived, Daniel said they were just having “harmless fun” and he wanted to spend time with his buddies.
I quickly grabbed my pregnancy pillow and stormed upstairs to our bedroom, ending our argument.
I drifted off to sleep as the noise from downstairs slowly faded. Suddenly, I heard Daniel’s booming voice: “Mary, honey, get up! Get up! Fire, fire, fire! Get up!”
My body was flooded with adrenaline, causing my heart to skip a beat.
I reached for my blanket and pillow, covering my abdomen as though to shield it from harm. I yelled for Daniel to open the door and phone the fire department as I hurried downstairs after opening the door.
The moment I stepped into Daniel’s friends’ living room, they started laughing. Daniel approached them while snorting like a lion. I was bewildered and lost.
“What’s going on?” Still attempting to make sense of the situation, I asked.
Daniel laughed some more and told me that his friends intended to trick me and have some “fun.” He was supposed to scare me by yelling, “Fire! Fire!”
It was as though I had taken a punch to the gut. Fear and anger shot to the surface. Daniel frozen in place as I approached him.
“How could you do this to me? How could you play with my fear like this?” I yelled, tears streaming down my cheeks.
Daniel stopped laughing and started to apologize a lot. However, it was already too late. The harm had already occurred. My thoughts were spinning, and my heart was pounding.
I snapped back, turning and storming back upstairs. “You shouldn’t have done that, Daniel,” I shot back.
I shut myself in our bedroom in an attempt to gather my thoughts. I felt tears well up at the corners of my eyes when I considered Daniel’s recklessness.
How could he not see that I still found this to be a trigger? That the sound of sirens and the scent of smoke would remain permanently scarred in my memory?
I was shocked that I’d allowed him to treat me like this. We should be over this, I thought. I believed that we were practicing understanding and trust.
I felt confined as soon as I sat on the bed. I felt like I was getting closer to the walls. I tried to relax by taking slow breaths, but my mind was constantly racing.
Why would Daniel act in this way? Had he forgotten my past experiences? Or did he just not give a damn about how I felt? His silly antics were nothing new to me, but this? It was harsh to do this.
I wanted a sympathetic ear when I talked to someone.
I reached for my phone and typed a number I was familiar with.
“Dad?” I spoke, attempting to maintain a steady tone.
“Hey, kiddo,” came my father’s friendly reply. “What’s going on?”
I exhaled deeply and let everything out. “Dad, Daniel did something stupid, and it really triggered me… big time.”
My father’s voice became grave. Okay, honey, just settle down. Tell me what transpired.
I inhaled deeply once more and described everything, including the practical joke and my ensuing breakdown.
When I finished, my dad listened in silence for a moment before speaking. “Mary, I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I’m on my way.”
There was a lump in my throat. “Dad, sometimes I feel trapped in a never-ending cycle of fear and anxiety.”
My dad’s voice softened. “You’re not alone, Mary. You’re strong, and you can get through this. We’ll figure it out together.”
I recognized the sound of Dad’s car coming up outside ten minutes later.
With a stern attitude, my dad entered through the open door. “Mary, please. We’re heading out.”
I gathered my belongings and nodded. Daniel was still sitting on the couch, his attitude smug and indifferent. His companions had caused so much mayhem that they had long ago moved on. Ignoring him, I concentrated on packing my belongings.
I saw the way my dad’s gaze pierced Daniel’s as we left the apartment.
“You’re lucky I didn’t lose it on you right now, buddy,” he muttered under his breath.
For a few minutes, we were the only ones making noise—the hum of the engine, some light music, and the distant pitter-patter of rain.
Finally, my Dad spoke up. “That boy’s got some serious issues. He knows better than to push you around like that.”
I felt a pang of sadness at the thought of Daniel’s actions. “I know, Dad. It’s just… sometimes I feel like he doesn’t care about me or my feelings.”
My Dad put a hand on my knee. “You’re worth so much more than this, Mary. Don’t let him dim your light.”
His remarks made me grin a little as I felt a wave of peace pass over me.
We arrived home, and Dad opened the door. “Let’s get you inside and settled. We’ll deal with Daniel later.”
The full effect of Daniel’s actions dawned on me in the stillness of the night. It was a calculated attempt to scare me, and not only because I was pregnant. It wasn’t a joke.
I felt a surge of panic at the concept. What would happen if his foolishness caused something bad to happen to me or our child? The uncertainty was oppressive.
I felt determined when I woke up the following morning. I couldn’t allow Daniel’s actions to define my pregnancy or our relationship. It was time for me to take charge and defend my child and myself.
Even though I knew it wouldn’t be simple, I called my attorney and filed for divorce since it was essential.
As usual, my dad was encouraging, but my mother wasn’t as sympathetic. She insisted that I was exaggerating and that Daniel wasn’t trying to harm me.
However, I was aware of this. It wasn’t a joke—Daniel had played with my fears. It was about our child as well, not just about me. If he couldn’t even respect his partner’s boundaries or worries, what sort of father would he be?
Two days have passed since I made the painful decision to file for divorce. Daniel has been apologizing to me nonstop and saying that he will change, but it’s too late. I can never get my feelings back, and the damage is done.
I’ve grown to understand that my emotions should not be handled carelessly, and I think Daniel should get that.
If you were in my position, how would you respond? Would you step up, put your own safety and wellbeing first, and shield your child from the negative influence of someone who didn’t give a damn about your mental health or emotional state? Or would you want to let go and go on in the hopes that something miraculous will improve?
Now Trending:
- Do Not Throw Away Eggshells! Here’s How You Can Use Them
- If You See A Wire Tied To Your Car Door Handle, You’d Better Know What It Means
- Your Money Could Be Worth More Money – Take Out Your Wallet And Take A Close Look At Your Dollar Bills
Please SHARE this article with Family and Friends and let us know what you think in comments!
