**Diary Entry**
Mum, can you believe itDads new wife is ill, and they say its something serious.
Let me tell you what happened to me ten years ago. I raised two daughters with my husband, and theyve since gone off to university. I was looking forward to this new chapter, thinking my husband and I would start fresh. But he made a different choicehe betrayed me with his secretary.
*”Im sorry, I never meant to hurt you,”* he said, *”but I love her.”*
That evening, he packed his things and left for a woman half his age. My daughters were furious and refused to speak to him. It was agonising, especially when the younger one tried to mend things between us. I wish I could erase that year from my memory. Time hasnt healed the woundsIve just learned to live with them. To keep myself from sinking, I threw myself into my hobby, growing rare plants and selling them. It kept me from falling apart.
Eventually, my daughters reconciled with their father and would occasionally tell me about his new life. He was happy with her, and later, they had a son together.
*”Mum, can you imagineshes ill, they say its serious.”*
*”Girls, please stop talking about themI dont like it,”* Id say, because deep down, I still loved my husband. The thought of him with another woman darkened my mood. Years had passed, yet in my heart, he was still mine.
Then, one Saturday morning, I woke to a figure standing over me. I thought I was dreaminguntil I heard his shaky voice. *”Im sorry to wake you, but… I dont know what to do with the boy.”* He looked older now, streaks of grey in his hair. Behind him stood a small childtheir son.
*”My wife passed last night,”* he said. *”Ive got the funeral to arrange, the girls are workingI cant take him. Hes too young.”*
The boy was only four. Confused, I glanced at him, and immediately, he piped up: *”Are you my auntie?”*
*”No,”* I snapped, ready to shut the conversation down.
*”Mummy said we didnt have anyone.”*
*”I didnt even know your mother.”*
But he was so sweet. I realised the boy was blameless, so I gave in. *”Do you like porridge? Come with meyoull have breakfast, then your dad can fetch you later.”*
I made coffee for myself and porridge for him. Watching him eat, I saw traces of my daughters in his face. We spent the morning watching cartoons and reading my girls old storybooks. He was bright, gentlenothing like Id dreaded.
After that, my ex-husband started bringing him over more often. We grew close, the three of us. My daughters arent ready for children yet, so in a way, he became the grandchild Id never had.
Two years have passed since his wife died, and recently, my ex asked if we might live together again. Part of me wants it desperatelyI can picture us as a proper family. But the resentment lingers. Can I really trust him after everything?
If we try and fail, itll only hurt the boy. I dont know what to do. I love them both, but the fear of being deceived again wont leave me.
