I dont owe you anything, murmured Susan, pulling the front door shut right in her ex-husbands face.
Susan lingered in the hallway, hand resting against the cool wood, listening to the muffled thuds as Michael pounded his fist outside. Thump-thump-thump.
Susan! he bellowed. Come on, open up! Were grown-ups, arent we? Lets talk like normal people!
Normal people. How laughable.
Just half an hour ago, hed stood on her doorstep, though the door was open then. His smile was familiarwarm, almost pleasant.
Hi, Sue! hed piped, breezing inside. How are things? Hows work these days?
She recognised the tone at once. Honeyed, needya flag. He wanted money. Again.
Listen, Michael didnt wait for an invitation, slipping deeper inside, bit of a situation. Ive got a loanjust a small one. For my new business idea.
What business? shed asked.
Well, its still just an idea. Doesnt matter! He waved his hands frantically. The point is, the banks gone mad! Interest rates through the roof. I cant keep up!
Shed watched him, memories swirling. The same chorus for twenty years. Small loan. New business. Banks gone mad.
Thenweeks of tears, threats from the bank, the menacing calls from debt collectors. And always, she would burrow through her savings. Again and again.
How much? shed said quietly.
Only ten thousandpractically pennies for you, Sue. Youve got your flat, nice salary
Ten thousand?! shed repeated, voice rising.
Whats with the shouting, Sue? he sulked. Im not asking for a hand-out! Just a loan! Ill pay it back. Promise!
Ill pay it back. Hed said the same about the three thousand two years ago. The two thousand the year before. Never paid them back.
Michael, she said slowly, were divorced.
So what? Were still family! Im the father of your children! I mean, honestly, Sue, are you really that cold? Look, I get youre still angry about the split, he added, coaxing now. But thats ancient history! Adults help each other out in tough times!
Adults in tough times. She wasnt human, then? Hadnt she been in tough times all those years, grinding away in two jobs, patching up his debts?
I dont owe you anything.
What? He gaped.
I dont owe you anything, she said, crisp and clear.
She didnt just close the doorshe slammed it, inches from his nose.
Now, she waited, listening to him rage outside. But inside her, something flickereda strange lightness, as if shed shrugged off a rucksack after a marathon hike.
For the first time in twenty years, she refused, without apology or explanation.
The sky didnt fall.
For three days after the door slammed, Susan moved through her life in a haze. Was it pride, guilt, or just the odd hushthe phone no longer rang.
Then Thursday descended like a nightmare.
A call from their mutual friend, Margaret:
Sue, what on earth are you doing? Michael says you kicked him out and wont helphes got nothing!
Were divorced, Maggie.
So what? Its sacred to help someone in need!
Susan listened, silent, and thought: Who had helped her, all those years? Whod wondered how she made those loan payments she took out herselfalways to save him again?
An hour later, her son Oliver rang:
Mum, Dad called. Says youre refusing to lend a penny. Hes drowning in debt!
Oliver, those arent my debts.
Doesnt matter, Mum. Give him some! Youve got the cash.
Youve got the cash. Yes, she didbecause she worked twelve hours a day. Because she shopped for clothes on clearance. Because for twenty years, she scrimped everywhere.
Michael had splashed out on posh watches for business. Swapped cars for appearances. Treated his flings to restaurants for the mood.
On her money.
Oliver, she said firmly, your fathers fifty now. Its time he handled his own debts.
Friday arrived, and Michael himself appeared, clutching a bouquet, sheepish and charming:
Sue, forgive me. I was too harsh. I know its tough for you. Lets have a sensible chat?
He gripped the flowers tightly, as if wielding a shield. He knew how she loathed drama with neighbours peeking through their curtains.
Michaelplease leave.
Sue, ten thousandthis is life or death for me! Debt collectors are threatening! I might get hurt!
You might get hurt, she echoed. And Ive been dying in pieces for twenty years.
Why cant you let go of the past? he snapped. We were a family! Shared accounts, shared bills!
Shared accountshow amusing. She poured in, he siphoned out.
You know, Michael said suddenly, voice icy, I thought youd changed. Matured. But youre just a greedy cow.
Greedy cow. Her, whod handed over her last fifty quid for his emergencies.
Goodbye, Michael.
Think about it! he yelled. Think of Oliver! Think what people will say!
She slammed the door. But it wasnt enough.
Sunday, her neighbour Mrs Green appeared:
Susan love, your Michael was in the stairwell yesterday. Said you changed the locks?
I havent. I just dont open for him anymore.
Oh dear, Mrs Green tutted, Man in trouble, wife leaves him when its hard.
Susan glimpsed Mrs Greens own husbanda drinker for thirty years. She never left him in trouble, either.
Tuesday brought a surprise.
At the start, nothing unusual. Susan readied herself for another day at workuntil the buzzer rang.
Yes?
Susan Smith, its Mrs Green. Could you open up?
At the door, Mrs Green was flustered, swaddled in a dressing gown:
Susan, darling, could you do me a favour? Your Michaels asked me to pass onhe left some documents at yours, needs them for the bank. Should I give him the spare keys I keep, just for a minute?
Susans heart skipped.
What documents?
No idea, really. He says he cant go to the bank without thembegged me.
Mrs Green, there arent any of Michaels papers here.
Oh, surely! Men arent daft about these things! Couldve left them in the wardrobe, or in a drawer?
Susan looked at Mrs Greens kindly face and sensed the trap. Michael had found the weakest linka well-meaning old woman desperate to just help.
Dont you dare give him the keys.
Susan! How could you be so heartless? Hes only asking for help!
Im sorry, Mrs GreenIm late for work.
Susan slammed the door and hurried to the lift, heart thuddingsomething dark was brewing. Michael never quit so easily.
All day at work, nerves jittery. She kept wanting to ring home, but resisted. Just nerves, she told herself.
But that evening, climbing her stairwell, Susan froze. Her front door was ajar. Voices floated from the hall.
She inched closer.
Thank you so much, Mrs Green! Youre a lifesaver! Found my papers!
Oh, dont be silly, Michael! Im always happy to help. Your wifes become a bit stern, hasnt she?
Yes, she changed after the divorce. But time heals all.
Susan pushed open the door. Michael stood with a box in his arms, Mrs Green looking lost and awkward beside him.
Whats going on? she asked, ice-cold.
Sue! Just in time. Grabbed the paperworkand just took a few of my things too.
She peered into the boxher laptop, her tablet, her camera.
These arent yours.
What do you mean? Michael blinked. I bought them, remember? Mrs Green can vouchI explained everything.
Yes, Mrs Green nodded, Michael did say they were his.
Mrs Green, said Susan softly, please go home. Now.
Alarmed by her tone, Mrs Green scurried out. The two of them were left alone.
Michael, leave the box and go.
Sue, dont be like this! he grinned. Were civilised people. The techs mineI bought it back when we were together! Im entitled!
With my money.
With our money! he protested. Household budget!
Household budgether salary, her overtime, her exhaustion.
Put the box down.
No! Ive had enough of your moods! Think you can ruin my life and Ill just give up? Fat chance.
He spun for the exit. For once, Susan did something shed never dared.
She took out her phone and dialled 999.
Hello? Police? Flat 9, fifth block. My ex-husband broke in and is taking my belongings.
Michael spun around, stunned.
What are you doing?!
What I shouldve done ages ago, she replied.
Susan! Youre not serious! Calling the police on your husband!
Ex-husband. For theft.
Theft? he shrieked. Im not a stranger!
Exactlya stranger.
Michael dropped the box and slumped into the armchair:
So this is how it is? Fine. But what will you tell Oliver? That his mother called the cops on his dad?
Ill tell the truth. Twenty years, you lived on my moneyand when it ran dry, you tried to steal from me.
Steal? he leapt up. I gave you my entire life!
Your life? Susan whispered. The one where you wasted my money on affairs? Or the one where I worked for two to pay off your loans?
Michaels jaw hung open, then shut. Footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Thats the police, Susan said. You can leave now, or explain everything to them.
He rose, headed for the door.
Youll regret this, he hissed.
No, she smiled. I wont.
A knock. Michael left, brushing past the constable.
Susan was alone. She sat in the same chair Michael had used, realising it was over. For good.
That night, she rang the locksmith. Changed all her locks. Blocked Michael everywherephone, Facebook, WhatsApp.
A month passed.
Susan sat at her accounting class, jotting notes in a new notebook, bright tabs, coloured penspages still untouched, unmarred.
Her phone had been silent for weeks. The children called to grumble at firstthen slowly fell quiet. Michael seemed to have found someone else to bankroll him.
Or maybe, finally, learned to live within his means. Stranger things have happened.
In the evening, at home, Susan opened her laptopthe very one Michael had tried to take. She logged in to a job site.
Her new career was in demand. Decent salaries. Choices.
She wrote a CV, uploaded a photo. Under marital status, she typed: Single.
And smiled.
For the first time in years, it didnt feel like a sentence.
Above her kitchen counter, in a frame, her new mantra gleamed in flowing script:
I dont owe anyone anything, except myself.
Tomorrow was her interview. Tomorrow, shed show what a woman could become, once she stopped rescuing everyone else.
Tomorrow, her real life would begin.
