“Didn’t Want to Marry Mum Made Me”
“Tom, will you look after Alfie?” called Emily toward the bedroom, adjusting her scarf in the hallway mirror. “I’ll be back by six. Dont forget his lunchits ready in the fridge, just needs heating.”
The Saturday had turned hectican emergency at work, and the manager had asked her to come in. No one else could handle it. Emily agreed without hesitation. The job gave her more than just money; it made her feel needed.
Five-year-old Alfie was quietly playing with his toy cars in his room. She could hear him muttering, mimicking engine sounds. A normal weekend morning. She checked her bag, found her keys, and then Thomas emerged from the bedroom.
“No,” he said flatly.
Emily froze, her hand on the door. She turned, staring at her husband.
“What?”
“Im not babysitting today,” Thomas repeated, walking past her to grab his coat. “Ive got plans.”
She watched, stunned. Six years of marriage, and nevernot oncehad he refused to look after their son. Thomas had always been the perfect fatheror so she thought. He slipped on his shoes and opened the door without another glance.
“Tom, whats going on?” Emily stepped forward, but he sidestepped her like she was furniture.
“Nothings going on,” he muttered, and left.
The door clicked shut. Emily stood in the hallway, gripping her bag strap. Her chest tightened. She had to be at work in an hour. One hour! She snatched her phone, fingers trembling as she dialled her mother.
“Mum, Im so sorry, but I need help. Can you come watch Alfie?”
Thankfully, her mother didnt ask questions.
Emily did the mathsher mum wouldnt make it in time. She rushed to the neighbours. Mrs. Wilkins, the elderly woman across the hall, always helped in a pinch. She knocked, pleading with her eyes when the door opened.
“Mrs. Wilkins, could you watch Alfie for half an hour? Just until Mum gets here. Theres a crisis at work, and TomTom just left.”
Mrs. Wilkins sighed but agreed. Emily hurried back, explained to Alfie hed be next door for a bit, then bolted for the office. The whole way, her mind spun. What just happened? Why had Thomas acted like that? Had they argued without her realising? She replayed the last few days. Nothing came to mind. Last night, theyd eaten dinner, watched a film, even discussed plans for the week.
At work, she couldnt focus. She moved through tasks mechanically while her thoughts raced.
She texted Thomas three times.
“Where are you?”
“Whats wrong?”
“Why would you do this?”
No replies. The phone stayed silent. She checked it every five minutesnothing.
That evening, she thanked her mum and sent her home.
“Thanks so much. I dont know what Id do without you.”
Her mother stroked her hair like she was a child again.
“Its alright, love. But tell mewheres Tom?”
“I dont know. He left this morning and hasnt come back.”
She walked her mum out. The flat was too quiet. She tiptoed into Alfies room, watching him sleep, his little arms wrapped around a teddy bear. So small. So fragile. She brushed his hair, kissed his forehead, and slipped out.
Thomas returned two hours later. Emily had showered, changed into pyjamas, sipped chamomile tea. At the sound of his key in the lock, she stiffened. He walked in calmly, hung up his coat, and headed to the bedroom as if nothing had happened.
She stood in the doorway, watching. Inside, she seethed. Thomas scrolled on his phone, ignoring her. She stepped in front of him.
“What was that about?”
He looked up, indifferent. The kind of look strangers give you on the street. Not a husband. Not Alfies father.
“Im tired of pretending,” Thomas said.
Emilys pulse pounded. She sank onto the armchair, never taking her eyes off him.
“Pretending what?”
“This. The marriage. You. Alfie.”
She searched his face for any hint of a joke, but he was stone-cold.
“What are you saying?” she whispered, gripping the chair arms.
“Exactly what I said.” He shrugged. “I didnt want to marry you, Emily. Mum pressured me. Said you were kind, decent, the right sort. That Id be happy. I put up with it for six years. But I cant anymore. This marriage is suffocating me.”
She stared, tears welling but refusing to fall. Not now. Not in front of him.
“Then why wait so long? If you were miserable, why not leave sooner?”
A flicker of annoyance crossed his face.
“For you. Alfies older now. You can manage alone. If Id left earlier, it wouldve been harder. So I waited.”
Emily laugheda bitter, brittle sound. She looked at him like he was a stranger.
“How generous of you,” she sneered, wiping her eyes.
“You should be grateful!” Thomas snapped, voice rising. “I never cheated. I was faithful. Do you have any idea how hard that was?”
“Grateful? For what? For not cheating? I didnt drag you down the aisle, Tom! You proposed. You got down on one knee. You said you loved me. Or was that Mums idea too?”
Thomas shot up from the sofa.
“She pressured me! You dont get it! She said Id regret letting you go, that women like you dont stay single long. That Id regret it.”
“And do you?” Emily stepped closer. “Do you regret marrying me? The kind, decent girl?”
“I regret this marriage!” He flung a hand toward Alfies room. “I wanted something else. I dreamed of something different. Instead, I got you, your nagging, and a kid we never planned.”
“Alfie wasnt planned?” Her voice turned to ice. “Youre saying our son was a mistake?”
“Thats not what I meant,” Thomas backtracked, but she wouldnt let him dodge it.
“Its exactly what you meant. You think we ruined your life. So tell mewhy stay? Why not leave when I was pregnant? Why keep playing the doting husband?”
“Because I had to!” His fists clenched. “Because Mum said I couldnt abandon you with a baby. That itd shame the family. So I stayed. But Im done.”
Emily exhaled. Disappointment crushed her chest.
“Get out,” she said quietly.
“What?”
“Leave. Take your things and go. Never come back. Alfie and I dont need you.”
Thomas froze. Hed expected tears, begging. Not this cold, final dismissal.
“Emily, lets talk”
“Go!” she screamed, the pain in her voice making him flinch.
He packed in silence. Clothes, documents, phone. Emily stood by the door, unmoving. When he passed her, she didnt look at him. The door slammed shut.
She collapsed onto the bed, face buried in the pillow. The tears came thengreat, heaving sobs she muffled so Alfie wouldnt hear. They didnt stop. The pain felt endless, like it would burn her alive.
Dawn crept in. Emily lay empty, exhausted. Then something stirred inside her. Alfie was asleep in the next room. Her son. Her little boy, whod done nothing wrong. She rose, splashed cold water on her face, and stared at her reflection. Puffy eyes, pale skin. But she was alive. Shed survive.
For Alfie. For herself. Shed manage. Trust was brokenthat couldnt be fixed. But it didnt matter. They still had each other.
