Grace, it’s over between us!” David declared, his tone cold and final, slicing through the tense silence. “I want a real family, with children. You can’t give me that. I’ve filed for divorce. You have three days to gather your things. When you leave, let me know. I’ll stay at my mother’s until the apartment is ready for the child and for her mother. Yes, don’t be surprised, my new girlfriend is pregnant! Three days, Grace!”
Grace remained silent, feeling the ground crumble beneath her feet in a wave of shock and betrayal. What could she possibly say? For five years they had fought to have a child, but three pregnancies had ended in heartbreak. The doctors assured her she was healthy, but each time something went terribly wrong. Grace lived a healthy life, and during her pregnancies she was even more careful. The last time, she fainted at work, and the ambulance didn’t get there in time…
The door slammed shut behind David, and Grace, utterly drained, collapsed onto the sofa. She had no energy left to pack anything. Where could she go? Before the marriage, she had lived with her aunt, but after her death, the apartment was sold by her cousin. Return to the village of Oakley, to her grandmother’s house? Rent somewhere? And what about her job? Questions raced through her mind while time slipped away.
The next morning, the door opened, and her mother-in-law, Patricia Wilson, walked in.
“Not sleeping? Good,” she said in a dry voice. “I’ve come to make sure you don’t take anything that doesn’t belong to you.”
“I’m not taking your son’s old socks,” Grace replied, her face tightening. “Do you want to count my things?”
“What cheek! You were so gentle before. It was me who told David after the first pregnancy that you could never give birth.”
“Is that what you came to say? Then stay quiet and watch.”
“Why are you taking the dinner set?” the mother-in-law said, alarmed.
“It’s mine, from my aunt, a memory of her.”
“It’ll be empty here without it!”
“Not my problem. But at least you’ll have a grandchild.”
“Take only what belongs to you!”
“The laptop, the coffee maker, and the microwave are gifts from my colleagues. I bought the car before the wedding. Your son has his own.”
“You have everything you need, but you can’t have children!”
“It’s not your business. It seems that’s what God wanted.”
“Don’t you regret it? Maybe you did it on purpose?”
“You’re talking nonsense. I can’t even think about it without it hurting.”
Grace looked aroundthe things that were hers had vanished. The brush, the makeup, the slippers… She had forgotten something vital. The presence of the mother-in-law bothered her. She remembered the cat figurine, a keepsake from her grandmother. Inside was a secret compartment with earrings and a ringnot valuable, but dear to her. David had thought it a trifle. Had he thrown it away? Grace opened the balcony.
“What are you looking for there?” the mother-in-law’s voice rang out. “Come on, take your things and leave!”
She found the cat figurine, everything intact. Now she could go.
“Here are the keys, goodbye. I hope we never see each other again.”
Grace went to the office. She was on medical leave, but she requested some vacation time.
“We’re with you,” the boss said. “But it’s hard without you. Will three weeks be enough?”
Grace closed her eyes and felt Oliver’s hand gently squeezing hers, knowing that after so much pain, her new life was just beginning.Grace, it’s over between us!” David declared, his tone cold and final, slicing through the tense silence. “I want a real family, with children. You can’t give me that. I’ve filed for divorce. You have three days to gather your things. When you leave, let me know. I’ll stay at my mother’s until the apartment is ready for the child and for her mother. Yes, don’t be surprised, my new girlfriend is pregnant! Three days, Grace!”
Grace remained silent, feeling the ground crumble beneath her feet in a wave of shock and betrayal. What could she possibly say? For five years they had fought to have a child, but three pregnancies had ended in heartbreak. The doctors assured her she was healthy, but each time something went terribly wrong. Grace lived a healthy life, and during her pregnancies she was even more careful. The last time, she fainted at work, and the ambulance didn’t get there in time…
The door slammed shut behind David, and Grace, utterly drained, collapsed onto the sofa. She had no energy left to pack anything. Where could she go? Before the marriage, she had lived with her aunt, but after her death, the apartment was sold by her cousin. Return to the village of Oakley, to her grandmother’s house? Rent somewhere? And what about her job? Questions raced through her mind while time slipped away.
The next morning, the door opened, and her mother-in-law, Patricia Wilson, walked in.
“Not sleeping? Good,” she said in a dry voice. “I’ve come to make sure you don’t take anything that doesn’t belong to you.”
“I’m not taking your son’s old socks,” Grace replied, her face tightening. “Do you want to count my things?”
“What cheek! You were so gentle before. It was me who told David after the first pregnancy that you could never give birth.”
“Is that what you came to say? Then stay quiet and watch.”
“Why are you taking the dinner set?” the mother-in-law said, alarmed.
“It’s mine, from my aunt, a memory of her.”
“It’ll be empty here without it!”
“Not my problem. But at least you’ll have a grandchild.”
“Take only what belongs to you!”
“The laptop, the coffee maker, and the microwave are gifts from my colleagues. I bought the car before the wedding. Your son has his own.”
“You have everything you need, but you can’t have children!”
“It’s not your business. It seems that’s what God wanted.”
“Don’t you regret it? Maybe you did it on purpose?”
“You’re talking nonsense. I can’t even think about it without it hurting.”
Grace looked aroundthe things that were hers had vanished. The brush, the makeup, the slippers… She had forgotten something vital. The presence of the mother-in-law bothered her. She remembered the cat figurine, a keepsake from her grandmother. Inside was a secret compartment with earrings and a ringnot valuable, but dear to her. David had thought it a trifle. Had he thrown it away? Grace opened the balcony.
“What are you looking for there?” the mother-in-law’s voice rang out. “Come on, take your things and leave!”
She found the cat figurine, everything intact. Now she could go.
“Here are the keys, goodbye. I hope we never see each other again.”
Grace went to the office. She was on medical leave, but she requested some vacation time.
“We’re with you,” the boss said. “But it’s hard without you. Will three weeks be enough?”
Grace closed her eyes and felt Oliver’s hand gently squeezing hers, knowing that after so much pain, her new life was just beginning.
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