You Don’t Matter to Us
Emily arrived at work feeling upset; the day before had marked the end of her marriage. Her colleagues, already aware of the situation, noticed her forlorn state and did their best to console her:
“Emily, don’t dwell on it too much. You’re not the first and won’t be the last to go through this. You’re strong, and you’ll raise your boys well. Your ex will regret it one day, just don’t lose hope,” said Kate, who had been divorced for five years as well.
“Kate’s right,” added Laura. “Men often get a kick out of seeing their former partners struggle without them, thinking they’re indispensable. But when they see their exes doing well and looking happy, it rattles them. It shows that life can be good even without them. So, Emily, keep your head held high, and everything will be okay!”
Though Emily agreed outwardly, inwardly, she worried about her future. “It’s easy for them to say, but how am I supposed to raise two boys alone on one salary, especially since they love their father?”
Emily had divorced John after a decade of marriage. One evening, he came home and announced, “I’m leaving you for another woman. We’re not a family anymore; I just don’t love you. Something changed.”
“You’ve probably found someone younger, just like other men…” she retorted.
“No, not younger. I’m going to someone who already has two kids.”
“So now you’re abandoning your own children to raise someone else’s? Leave and don’t come back; I won’t forgive you,” she managed to say calmly, determined not to show him any tears.
The tears came later, after he had left with his bags. As she sat alone, Emily wondered, “How did it come to this? My husband left for a woman with two kids who was also left by her husband. We’re all in the same boat. I can’t believe she’d break up a family, knowing how hard it is to be left with children.”
With no time to dwell on herself or cry, Emily focused on caring for her sons. Their father never called or checked in, and Emily didn’t know what to tell them. Once, they spotted him on the street and ran toward him, calling out, “Dad! Dad!” That evening, they waited for him to come home.
Emily spent that night distracting the boys from thoughts of their father, even though they continued to wait for him.
The next day, she called her ex, “Couldn’t you at least visit the kids or take them out? You divorced me, not them. Meet them after school; they shouldn’t suffer because you found someone else. How do I explain this to them?”
But John only listened patiently before hanging up. Emily realized then that he didn’t care about the children anymore. In time, the boys got used to life without their father, and even when they saw him on the street, they’d walk past without acknowledging him.
Emily tried hard to keep the boys’ spirits up. She spent weekends taking them to the park, the cinema, or children’s events, and on cold days, she kept them entertained at home. They’d bake together, making whatever shapes came to mind. The boys loved creating animal shapes, cubes, and balls from the dough, eager to find their creations once baked and share them with one another.
Despite the struggle and heartache for her children’s sake, Emily believed in carrying on for her sons. They were doing well in school, and teachers never complained; they even praised the boys at parents’ meetings.
One winter’s evening, while rushing home, Emily slipped and fell near her house. A man immediately ran over from his parked car and helped her up. The grocery bag she dropped hadn’t torn, and he handed it back to her.
“Good evening,” he said warmly.
“Not so good when you’ve fallen,” she grumbled but recollected herself to reply politely, “Hello, and thank you.”
Seeing her wince as she rubbed her knee, the man asked, “Is your leg alright?”
“I think so, no break at least. Just sore from the fall.”
“Can I give you a lift?” he offered. “No need to be shy or afraid. I’m Kevin. I happened to be here, or maybe it’s fate, knowing you’d fall here,” he joked.
Emily managed a smile, “No, thank you. That’s my home there, I’ll manage from here. Don’t worry, Kevin. I’m Emily. Goodbye.”
As she limped to her building, Kevin watched until she disappeared inside.
A couple of days later, on her way home from work, Emily saw Kevin again. He stood near her entrance, smiles and a bouquet in hand.
“I hope today’s a good evening, Emily?”
“Yes, it’s a good one today,” she replied, smiling.
“Then this is for you,” he said, handing her the flowers.
“Thanks, but what’s the occasion?”
“No reason, just to brighten your day. I found myself missing you and thought I’d check if you needed my help again. So here I am.”
“Thanks, but as you see, I’m getting by just fine today,” Emily chuckled.
They chatted more and Kevin invited her to a café.
“Not tonight, Kevin. My boys are home and expecting me. But maybe tomorrow. I have two sons, you see… just so you know.”
“Of course, let’s do tomorrow then. I’ll meet you after work. Let your boys know you’ll be late. I understand… I have two of my own… well, used to.”
The next day, at the café, Kevin opened up about his past.
“I had a family too, a wife and two sons. One weekend, my wife took the boys to the countryside to visit family; I couldn’t join them as I was wrapping up a project. On their way back, in a storm, their car skidded and crashed. I lost them all six years ago. Since then, it’s been just me,” he concluded somberly.
“I can’t imagine losing your whole family like that. I’m so sorry,” Emily said, deeply moved.
“It’s alright, I’ve made peace with it. The first three years were tough, trying to find purpose. I just want to have a family again, but it’s hard to find that.”
“And here I was thinking my husband leaving was the worst thing,” Emily sympathized, as she silently prayed for health and happiness for all.
As time went on, Kevin and Emily continued meeting. Kevin realized Emily and her boys could fill the void in his life. Her sons bonded well with him, and their time together brought joy to Emily, too. She watched fondly as her boys, starved of male companionship, formed a joyful connection with Kevin.
Eventually, Kevin proposed to Emily, and she, having waited for this moment, accepted joyfully.
“Of course I will, my dear,” she responded, glowing with happiness.
Time passed, and they settled into family life, though Emily couldn’t have more children. Nonetheless, Kevin loved her sons as his own.
She shared with her colleagues, “It feels like we’ve always been a family, as if my ex never existed, and sometimes even the boys seem to be Kevin’s.”
Years later, unexpectedly, her ex-husband called. He knew about Emily’s new life, having seen her with Kevin and noticed her happiness.
“Let’s start over,” he suggested. Emily laughed, “After I’ve shed all despair and found joy again, you think I’d return to you? I’ve forgotten you even exist. I’m happy with Kevin; we’re a real family. Even the boys call him Dad. You’re not needed!”
“But I miss you and…” John began.
“We’re fine without you. Goodbye!”
Perhaps if he had called years earlier, she’d have been thrilled, but not now. She recalled her colleagues’ words about men struggling to see their exes happy with someone else, unaware someone else could claim a place they once held.
