My daughter and I could live comfortably for our whole lives. I had the looks, the money, the time, and a perfect daughter, but I had no partner. I didn’t have to keep the lights on for someone who might not even come back home anymore.
I didn’t have to cook three meals every day. I didn’t have to keep guessing and double–guessing what Timothy was thinking. I didn’t have to face his neglect or obsess over who he really loved.
I could also do anything I wanted in my own home.
Life couldn’t be better. Tabitha loved our new place. “This is a princess‘ room, Mom!”
An excited Tabitha was jumping on the bed I bought for her. She was never allowed to do this back at that home. Though Timothy barely came home, every time he did, he was eager to set up new rules for us. No loud noises in the house, no talking while eating, no making sounds at bedtime, and more.
He even made sure we had to walk as quietly as we could. If we disappointed him even a little, he would give us that look of disapproval. We’d feel embarrassed and pressured into apologizing and doing what he wanted us to.
Not anymore. We had our own place, and we made the rules here. We could do anything we wanted. After she was done jumping around, Tabitha came running up to me. “Can we have fried chicken for lunch, Mom?” She stared at me with her big, sparkling eyes.
Smiling, I scratched her nose. “Of course, sweetheart.”
Tabitha grinned and made a peace sign. Then, she carefully asked me, “Can we really live like this our whole lives, Mom? This… happy life?”
I felt something stinging my eyes. I should’ve gotten divorced earlier. My daughter could’ve lived in a family filled with love and light, but thanks to a man who didn’t even love us, she was forced to live in self–doubt every day and became a hesitant and hypersensitive person.
I held her tightly and guaranteed, “I promise, we can live like this forever.”
“Yay!” Tabitha nodded.
And then someone rang the doorbell. Maybe our Uber Eats order was here. I happily opened the door. “Oh, that was fas- I saw who it was. My smile froze.
A haggard Timothy darkened our doorstep. He seemed to have missed sleep, and in his hands were a big Hello Kitty plushie and a cake.
My prolonged absence made Tabitha curious. She came to me and was surprised to see Timothy.
However, Timothy was smiling at us like he’d done nothing wrong in his life. “Hi, Tabitha. I’m here to celebrate your birthday.”
Tabitha looked at him, then at me, then she gave him a sidelong glance. “Today’s not my birthday, and I don’t like Hello Kitty.”
