It was exactly like it sounds. Only with the addition that I am eight months pregnant and had to take my sick four-year-old son to the hospital because my husband told me he couldn’t miss his friend Jessica’s 30th birthday party.
My name is Sarah. I’m 33 years old, eight months pregnant, and exhausted. We recently moved to New York. My husband, Mark, and I thought it would be a fresh start. Little did I know how lonely it would be.
Mark barely glanced up from his phone. He was getting ready to leave for Jessica’s 30th birthday party. “Sarah, it’s just a stomach ache. He’ll be fine.”
“I don’t think so,” I insisted, holding Ethan close. “I’m really worried. I’m too tired to drive. Can you take him?”
Mark sighed, clearly annoyed. “I can’t miss Jessica’s party. She’ll be upset if I don’t show up.”
“Mark, please,” I pleaded. “I’m eight months pregnant. I’m not feeling well enough to take him.”
He looked at me, his expression hard. “You’ll have to deal with it yourself, Sarah.”
In that moment, something inside me broke. How could he put a party over our son’s health and my well-being? I felt my love for him start to wither.
I called my friends, Jenna and Lisa, hoping one of them could help. Jenna’s phone went straight to voicemail. Lisa answered but told me she was swamped at work. “I’m so sorry, Sarah. I really can’t leave right now.”
Desperate, I called an Uber. The fare was outrageous, but I didn’t have a choice. Ethan’s condition was getting worse. We needed to get to the hospital.
When we arrived, the emergency room was bustling. I held Ethan tightly, trying to stay calm. A nurse took us in and, after some initial checks, told us they needed to run more tests.
Hours later, a doctor approached me with a serious expression. “Your son has appendicitis. He needs emergency surgery.”
I felt a wave of panic wash over me. I tried calling Mark again. No answer. I left him a message, my voice shaking. “Mark, it’s serious. Ethan has appendicitis. He needs surgery. Please call me.”
The night was long and harrowing. I stayed by Ethan’s side, watching the rise and fall of his chest as he slept. I was exhausted, angry, and heartbroken. How could Mark not be here?
The surgery was a success, but I knew this was just the beginning of a much larger issue. As Ethan recovered, I made a decision. A simple divorce wouldn’t be enough. Mark needed to understand the gravity of his betrayal.
I wasn’t sure what my plan was yet, but I knew one thing for certain: I couldn’t let this go. For Ethan, for our unborn child, and for myself, I had to take a stand.
Hours passed. My phone buzzed. It was Mark, finally calling.
“Sarah, I’m on my way home. How’s Ethan?” he asked casually, as if nothing was wrong.
I took a deep breath, holding back the tears. “You’ll find out when you get here,” I replied, my voice cold and determined.
As I hung up, I felt a strange sense of calm. This was far from over, but it was a start.
I gathered all the medical bills and the Uber receipts, laying them out on the kitchen table. Each document felt like a tangible piece of my broken heart.
I took a deep breath and wrote a note. My hands shook slightly, but my resolve was firm:
“Mark,
Since you chose a party over your family, you can find another place to stay. Your belongings and proof of your neglect are here. I’ve also sent copies to our family and friends. Consider this your notice of divorce.
Sarah”
I placed the note on top of the suitcase and set the photos around it. It was a scene that couldn’t be ignored or denied. I sent messages to our close family and friends, attaching the photos and explaining what had happened. I knew it would cause a stir, but I needed them to understand why I was taking this drastic step.
Hours later, as the sun began to set, I heard Mark’s car pull into the driveway. My heart pounded in my chest, but I stood firm. I watched from the window as he approached the front porch, his expression changing from confusion to shock as he saw the suitcase and note.
He fumbled for his phone and called me. “Sarah, what is this? What’s going on?”
“You chose a party over your family, Mark,” I said, my voice steady. “Ethan had to have emergency surgery, and you weren’t there. I had to handle everything alone.”
There was a pause on the line, then his voice, frantic and pleading. “I’m so sorry, Sarah. I didn’t know it was that serious. Please, let’s talk about this.”
I shook my head, even though he couldn’t see me. “It’s too late for that. You made your choice. Ethan and I deserve better.”
“Please,” he begged. “I can change. I’ll do better. Just give me another chance.”
I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of his words but knowing I couldn’t go back. “This isn’t just about one mistake, Mark. It’s about a pattern of neglect and disregard. I have to do what’s best for our children and myself.”
The night was long, and I lay awake, thinking about the future. It wouldn’t be easy, but I knew it was the right decision. Mark’s actions had shattered any trust and love I had for him. Now, it was time to move on and build a life that my children and I deserved.
When the morning light filtered through the curtains, I felt a sense of calm. The storm had passed, and a new day was beginning. I knew we would be okay. We had each other, and that was enough.