We got married while we were still at university, utterly in love with each other. We didnt even have enough money for a wedding bouquet, so he picked some flowers for me from the nearest public garden. I married him as a virgin. We moved in with my mother, who supported us both during our studies. Things between my husband and me were good. We would get up together in the middle of the night when our son cried. Together, we looked after him and washed his nappies.
Then the wild nineties swept in tough times. My husband tried to provide for us by any means he could manage. Eventually, he landed a job as a programmer at a local firm. He spent ten years there, gained experience, and then set up his own software business. Our familys income kept rising steadily. We bought a flat, a car, and even a small cottage. We didnt deny ourselves much.
One day, my husband suggested I stop working so I could focus more on our home and family. I agreed. Our son finished his studies in applied mathematics, and soon after, his father brought him into the business. But just a few days into the new job, my son delivered news that shook my world.
It turned out my husband had taken up with a much younger woman. The happiness wed built vanished. I faced a choice: to leave or to pretend I hadnt noticed anything. I chose the latter, thinking maybe his infatuation would pass. Why cause a scandal before it was necessary? But three months later, my husband sat me down and told me everything. He admitted hed fallen in love, and that the other woman was pregnant. He also said he didnt want to divorce me. He proposed that he live with her, but continue to support me financially as always. He promised that half the business would go to our son.
I felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest. I can still see the bouquet he gave me on our wedding day. Ive learnt that life doesnt always go as we hope, but holding on to dignity can bring strength, even when your world is falling apart.
