When Elena was in hospital, preparing to give birth to her and Michael’s first child, she found herself alone with her mother. Michael was simply absent. When she was discharged, Elena entered the house expecting to see Michael there with an explanation. Instead, she discovered a note from Michael blaming Elena’s mother for his absence. Where is Michael and what occurred?
I always believed that the happiest day of my life was the day I married Michael. Later, we learned I was pregnant, and I thought that giving birth to our baby would be the joyful moment.
I never imagined that it would turn into a nightmare. Michael had assured me he would be there, holding my hand as we welcomed our firstborn.
We planned everything together—from the music in the delivery room to the tiny hat he would place on our baby’s head.
But when the moment arrived, Michael was nowhere to be seen.
I remember the nurses’ sympathetic smiles as they reassured me he was probably just delayed. But each minute, the feeling in my stomach sank deeper.
I had been calling him for hours, leaving frantic messages, but he did not answer. As my contractions grew stronger, so did my fear. Was I about to do this alone? What could have kept him away?
“Come on, Michael,” I whispered through clenched teeth.
When my daughter was born, I was filled with happiness, but it was marred by the empty space beside me where my husband should have been. Where was Michael? Why hadn’t he come?
My mother was with me, holding my hand when Michael should have been there, but I could see the worry in her eyes too. And if she knew anything, she didn’t tell me.
“Just relax, Elena,” my mother advised. “Focus on Emily now. And on yourself; your body needs a moment.”
“I know,” I replied. “I’m just worried.”
After two days in the hospital, I was finally released. My mother helped me carry Emily to the car, and we drove home in silence. My mother kept tapping her fingers on the steering wheel.
I tried to stay calm, convincing myself that there must be a reasonable explanation for Michael’s absence. Maybe something happened at work. Maybe he was in an accident and in another hospital.
The ideas became more frantic with every mile.
But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when we arrived home.
The house was disturbingly quiet. I pushed the door open, half-expecting Michael to be waiting with some explanation I could forgive once I saw his face.
“Michael?” I called out, my voice echoing through the empty rooms. “Michael, are you here?”
No answer.
“Be quiet, Elena,” my mother warned. “Emily is sleeping.”
I ignored her and hurried upstairs. I had to check the nursery; maybe he was in there, just waiting for us to return. We had spent weeks decorating it exactly how I imagined during pregnancy.
But when I entered the nursery, my breath caught.
The room was almost empty. The crib was there, but all the toys, stuffed animals, Emily’s outfits, and blankets we had picked together were gone. Only a single piece of paper remained, placed carefully inside the crib.
I love you and our baby, Elena. But I have to leave forever. Ask your mom why she did this. I’ve taken some of Emily’s things to remember you both.
I stared at the note, my mind struggling to understand. What did Michael mean? Why did he have to leave? And what did my mother have to do with any of it?
“Mom!” I shouted, rushing down the stairs as fast as my postpartum body allowed. I clutched the note tightly as I stormed into the living room where she sat holding Emily.
“What is this?” I demanded, thrusting the note at her. “What did you do? Where is my husband?”
She looked at me with heavy eyes. For a moment, I saw a flicker of emotion I couldn’t name. Guilt? Regret?
“I didn’t want you to find out like this…” she said softly.
“What? Find out what?” I nearly yelled. “Tell me now!”
She inhaled, preparing herself.
“I found out something about Michael, honey. It was just too big to keep from you. He needed to know that I knew.”
“Knew what? Why are you talking in riddles?” I asked, exhausted and closing my eyes.
“He’s been having an affair,” she said quietly. “With someone from his office. Can you believe it?”
The words hit me hard. I had to sit down quickly.
“No, Mom,” I said. “That can’t be true. Michael wouldn’t do that to us. He loves me! And he was so excited about Emily and starting our family!”
“I wish it wasn’t true, darling. Do you think I liked being right?” she asked softly. “I overheard him talking on the phone. They planned to meet at a motel. When I confronted him, he admitted it. He’s been seeing his boss, a woman much wealthier than we ever imagined. She’s been offering him things he couldn’t refuse.”
“You mean… the promotion? It wasn’t just hard work? And the new car wasn’t just because of his efforts?” I gasped.
My chest felt tight, like I couldn’t breathe.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, tears running down my face, my lower back aching. “Why didn’t you give me a chance to talk to him? To fix this?”
“Oh, honey,” my mom soothed. “I gave him the chance. I told him he had to tell you everything or leave forever. I thought that if he did, he was still a good man. But he chose to leave you and Emily.”
I didn’t want to believe her. I wanted to believe Michael. Maybe there was more to this. How could my mother have been with me during my labor if she knew the truth?
It made no sense.
One thing was clear: my mother hadn’t really liked Michael. She tolerated him because he cared for me, but that was all. They had no other connection.
But what if my mother simply wanted him gone?
Unintentionally, I voiced these thoughts aloud.
“Really? Elena! Do you think I would purposely hurt my daughter and ruin her relationship with her husband?” she cried. “He betrayed you by having an affair. I just wanted you to know the truth. I was trying to protect you.”
This couldn’t be real. My husband, the man I trusted most, had betrayed me. My mother forced him to leave without listening to his side.
“You shouldn’t have taken that choice away from me,” I said. “You should have let me decide!”
She held my thigh tight.
“I’m sorry, Elena,” she said. “I thought I was doing the right thing. I didn’t want you to suffer more. This pregnancy was hard enough on your body and mind.”
She looked sincere, but I felt angry. Everything I believed in was gone in an instant.
My husband was gone. Probably with his mistress. My mother had betrayed my trust. And I was left alone with a newborn and a broken heart.
Emily’s eyes opened. Before I knew it, she began to cry.
“She’s hungry,” my mother said. “Maybe one day, when Emily faces something where she needs her mother’s protection more than a choice, you’ll understand why I did this.”
I nodded.
“I guess you’re right, Mom,” I said, unbuttoning my shirt to feed her. “But right now, I need some space. I need to get used to being on my own with her.”
“But you’re not alone, Elena,” my mother insisted. “Michael might have left, but I’m still here to love and support you. And Emily.”
“I know,” I replied. “But this is the decision I’m making now.”
“I’ll make some food and then leave,” she offered. “Let me plan meals for a week. Please?”
In the days after returning from the hospital, I thought more about Michael’s behavior. Obviously, he was having an affair. The late nights, dinners with “co-workers,” the close contact with his boss—it all made sense now.
I tried calling him repeatedly. Finally, he answered by accident, sounding groggy.
“Michael?” I asked.
“Elena?” he gasped.
“Is it true?” I pressed.
He hesitated, then answered, “Yes. All of it. I’m not coming back. I was excited to build a life with you and Emily, but I’ve fallen for Gretchen. I need to try this. I’ll transfer the house to your name soon—her lawyers will handle it.”
I couldn’t believe it.
Michael never contacted me again. I didn’t reach out either. He disappeared from my life as suddenly as he had entered it. At least Emily was safe from him.
She was away from Michael.
I held my baby, feeling both relief and heartbreak.
