My husband left me alone with our three-month-old baby and our sick two-year-old daughter. That evening, Nicolas had decided that our marriage had become “toxic” and that he needed some distance.
I was exhausted. At forty-three, I was still struggling to recover from childbirth. Clara, our two-year-old daughter, was suffering from an ear infection accompanied by a high fever, while little Léa cried nonstop because of her colic.
The kitchen was a mess. Between the bottles, medicines, and stained clothes, I didn’t know what to do first.
When I saw Nicolas coming downstairs with his suitcase, I asked him to stay.
— Just take Léa for a few minutes while I take care of Clara, I begged him.
But he refused.
— I can’t stand this house anymore, Marianne. I need some air.
Then he left.
For three weeks, I had to handle everything alone. Nicolas rarely replied to my messages. Later, I learned that he was traveling around Europe and calmly enjoying his trip.
One afternoon, the front door opened. Nicolas had returned. Tanned, rested, and smiling, he placed his bag in the hallway.
— I really enjoyed my trip. Now I’m ready to be your husband again.
I said nothing. He then walked toward the kitchen. Suddenly, his smile disappeared.
A man was sitting at our table, with several documents carefully arranged in front of him. He calmly looked up at Nicolas.
— Welcome home.
Nicolas froze. His face turned pale.
— Marianne… why is this man here?
This time, it was my turn to explain what had happened during his three weeks away. And what he said deeply shocked me.😮😮😮
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The man sitting at the table was called Mr. Laurent, my lawyer. During Nicolas’s absence, I had time to think about our marriage and, above all, about the future of our daughters.
— He’s here because I’ve made a decision, I replied calmly.
Nicolas looked at the documents, then burst out laughing.
— Are you kidding? You want a divorce just because I took three weeks to get some breathing room?
I couldn’t believe my ears.
— You abandoned us when Clara was sick and I could barely stand on my feet.
His smile disappeared.
Mr. Laurent gently pushed the folder toward him. It contained the initial documents concerning our separation, custody of the children, and the arrangement of our finances.
Nicolas looked through several pages before suddenly raising his head.
— You can’t do this to me. I came back! Everything can go back to the way it was.
That sentence surprised me more than anything else. The way it was? That was exactly what I never wanted to experience again.
I took Léa in my arms and looked at Nicolas.
— You thought you could leave when life became difficult and come back whenever it suited you. But during your absence, I realized something: I can live without you.
For the first time, Nicolas had nothing to say.
Mr. Laurent stood up and handed him the documents.
— You should read them carefully.
Nicolas remained motionless.
And for the first time in a long time, I finally felt free.
