The last few years ran through her mind like a horror movie with occasional glimpses of the true love that’d once made him essential to her.His disappearances, the unpredictable moods, the violent outbursts, the cutting words… Without the resources to change their circumstances, she’d been forced to adapt within the hellish bubble of their dysfunctional marriage.
In the days since she’d left the home they’d shared, she’d felt like she was coming off a years-long bender, sobering up for the first time to meet her new reality as a single mother of two young children who’d be looking to her to figure out a way forward for all of them.Coming down from the endless heightened state of alert, always gearing up for trouble she couldn’t see coming until he was right in front of her, would take time and patience.
It would also take time to stop blaming herself for things that’d been so far outside her control.No, she couldn’t have left sooner, because she hadn’t had thousands of dollars sitting around to make it possible to leave—and she’d refused to let her brother bail her out of a situation he’d told her not to get into in the first place.No, she couldn’t have called the police, because then she’d have had to fear he’d be released and come right back home, looking for vengeance.She’d been trapped in a nightmare, and no amount of Monday-morning quarterbacking or learning the true cause of his actions would change what’d been a terrifying reality for her.
She got up with the kids, went through the usual motions of snuggling and soothing and making breakfast for them when her heart had been shattered into a million pieces.As soon as she was sure Mrs.V would be awake, she called her.
“Oh, hi, honey.I was going to call you this morning to see how you’re doing.I miss having you right next door.”
“Something has happened.”She filled her friend in on what she’d learned at the hospital.
“Good Lord.All this time, and he had no idea?”
“No, because he refused to see a doctor.My theory is that he was afraid of what they might say.It had to be terrifying for him.”
“I never thought I’d feel sympathy for him after everything he’s done, but here we are.”
“I know.Same.”She tried to contain the sob that snuck out anyway.“It’s so terribly sad.”
“I’m coming over.I’ll stay with you and the kids for as long as you need me.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Let me help, Isla.You need some space to breathe, and you can’t do that with two little ones clinging to you.I want to help.”
“I’d love to have you here with us.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Thank you so much.”
“I love you all, and we’ll get through this together.I’ll see you soon.”
Isla was so thankful to her friend for realizing she was drowning.At some point over the last few years, Mrs.V had become like a mother to her and a grandmother to the kids, and she needed someone to lean on right now.Her parents had been gone so long, she barely remembered what it’d been like to have them around.Thanks to Mrs.V, the aching loss was a little less painful than it’d been before she’d come into Isla’s life.
True to her word, Mrs.V arrived an hour and a half later, pulling a suitcase behind her and carrying grocery bags.
The kids shrieked with delight at seeing her and showered her with hugs and kisses that made the older woman laugh with delight.“Did you guys grow a foot since I last saw you?”
“We can’t grow that fast!”Theo said, laughing.
Isla was so relieved to see her friend and to hear her little boy laugh.She wiped away new tears that refused to quit, even as she tried to hide them from the kids.
“Mommy is sad,” Theo said.
“I know, sweetie,” Mrs.V said.“Sometimes even mommies get sad, but she’ll be okay because we love her so much, and we’ll take very good care of her, right?”
“Right!”
After Theo ran off to play with his toys, Isla sat with Mrs.V on the sofa, holding her hand and resting her head on the other woman’s shoulder.
“I still can’t believe this news,” Mrs.V said.“I’ve been reeling since you called.”
“I know.It’s hard to believe.”
“How do you feel about him calling his parents and going home with them?”
“I think it was the right thing.I’d rather not have the kids witness his decline, and after everything that’s happened, I’m not sure I’d have it in me to care for him like that.I mean, I’d do it if he’d wanted me to, but he made it clear he didn’t.I’m kind of glad I don’t have to.And just saying that out loud makes me feel horrible and guilty.”
