He left me, three children and aging parents, to run off with his lover.
He abandoned me and our three kids, plus my elderly parents, and fled to Italy with his mistress.
I couldnt stop him.
It all began on my birthday.
At that time I lived in a tiny village, barely scraping by, and the shop windows in town were filled with gorgeous itemsmy eyes darted everywhere.
Id become fixated on a pair of sandals.
I lingered, watching them, already imagining myself wearing them, strolling down the main street, all eyes on me
Then someone nudged me lightly with an elbow.
Turning around, I saw a man in front of me, smiling.
Pretty, arent they? he said, nodding toward the sandals.
Yes I whispered, still fixed on the display.
Lets grab a coffee. If I buy you those sandals, will you go out with me?
I knew I would look naive and foolish to him, but at that moment I didnt care.
Okay, I replied.
I wanted the gift. I wanted to feel special, even for just one night.
We sat in a café, he ordered a cake, and I began to tell him my story.
I told him my parents were dead.
Part of it was true. I had indeed buried my father, but my mother
I had buried my mother in my mind since childhood, because she had left me as a baby.
I shared all this to stir his sympathy. And it worked.
That was how everything started.
I started coming to town more often, and we saw each other regularly.
His name was Laurent. He took me into his home, surrounding me with attention.
First came the sandals, then dresses, jewelry, fine perfumes.
But I didnt become his mistress for the gifts. I loved him. I believed he loved me too.
I was naïve.
I made a mistake I got pregnant.
I expected every possible reaction except:
We have to break up.
Figure it out yourself.
Get an abortion.
Instead he said:
Youll move in with me. Well raise this child together.
I could hardly believe my luck.
My mother had wrecked my life.
We got married. I thought fate finally smiled on me.
Then one day there was a knock at the door.
I opened it and almost fainted.
Standing on my doorstep was my mother, carrying a sack of sauerkraut, as if wed just seen each other yesterday. A neighbor had revealed where I now lived. She wanted reconciliation.
Laurent learned the truth. He discovered Id lied. In an instant his love vanished. He shouted, called me a provincial pretender, asked if my father would rise from his grave, since I seemed to make people disappear from my life so easily. He threw us outme, my mother, and her sauerkraut.
I still believed in him, and once again I was wrong.
I returned to my grandparents, sent my mother away, and was left alone with my child.
But Laurent came back.
Lets go back together, he said. We have a son.
I believed him again.
Foolish, I thought love would conquer everything. Yet he never brought me back to his apartment. We moved into his parents old houseelderly people who needed care. I agreed. I did everything for him, for his parents, for our son.
Then I became pregnant again.
One day we fought, and in anger he reminded me:
Dont forget youre only a guest here!
Those words cut like a knife. Still, I stayed, convinced love would endure the trials.
When the second child was born, he complained that money was a problem, that his business had sunk. We were now equal: I had nothing, he had nothing.
Then the third arrived. I thought nothing could change now; we would stay together no matter what.
He began working longer hours, leaving early and returning late. I assumed he was making sacrifices for the family.
I didnt see everything crumble.
Italy a ticket to a new life but not for me.
One day he announced:
I cant live like this any longer. Theres no future here. Im leaving abroad.
I believed him. He was exhausted, downcast, worn out. I even agreedlet him go, let him try to succeed elsewhere.
Later, by chance, I uncovered the truth. At the airport there were two tickets for a flight to Italy: one in his name, the other in the name of a woman he had been involved with for years.
I understood. I couldnt stop him. He left. I stayedleft with three children, his parents who were no longer strangers, an empty house and a heart full of pain.
I dont know how to live now. I just hope that someday the hurt will lessen.
He Left Me with Three Children and Ailing Parents to Run Off with His Mistress.
