I watched Simon Clarke pack his belongings with a quiet pride. He was leaving his wife, Evelyn, after fifteen years together, heading for a woman twelve years his junior. Evelyn stared at him with tearfilled eyes, hoping it was a joke and that he wouldnt really go.
Simon, dont go! she pleaded. We still have kids to raise. For the childrens sake, stay!
The kids will understand, he replied, almost as an exhusband now. Dont tie me down with the children! Theyre already thirteengrown up enough.
But theyre thirteen! They still need their dad! Evelyn sobbed again, trying to grab his sleeve, but he slipped his arm free.
Dont use the children as a leash! Dont ruin my life! Simon snapped. In that moment he thought of nothing but his bright future with his new, younger wife.
When he finally gathered everything, he walked out, leaving Evelyn on the hallway floor, weeping.
Later that afternoon Jack and Rosie Clarke came home from school. Evelyn was still on the floor, no longer crying, just staring blankly ahead. She looked at the children, rose, and whispered, Dads gone for good.
Dont cry, Mum, Rosie soothed. Well manage without him.
Exactly! Well get through it, Ill help, Jack added, supporting his mother.
Evelyn clutched them both, tears still falling, and said, How kind you are. Im so grateful youre here. Well get through this, everything will be alright
They did manage, though not instantly. Evelyn kept crying at night when the kids were asleep, missing her husband less and less as time went on.
The easier things became for Evelyn, the worse Simons life got. With Olivia Harper it was fun at first, but domestic life was unbearable. She could do nothing, and when she could, she refused. Simon began to compare her to Evelynbecause thats how hed always lived. Olivia grew tired, threw him out, and he found himself back at Evelyns door.
A year later Simon appeared on Evelyns doorstep, eyes downcast, dishevelled, unkempt. He begged forgiveness from Evelyn and the children, saying, I love you, I cant live without you. If you wont take me back, I wont survive. Its on your conscience. Evelyn felt a flicker of joy, thinking she still loved him and the kids more than the young divorcee. She argued for propriety, said everything she could, but accepted him. The children took him in without much enthusiasm; their youthful stubbornness wouldnt let them forgive their father, so they ignored his attempts at reconciliation.
Evelyn seemed to blossom. She was proud that Simon had returned. So Im the better one, she thought. Simon was pleased that his wife took him backmeans she still loves me. Everything seemed to fall into place.
But their reunion bothered Olivia. She was angry that Simon was doing fine without her. She decided to rekindle things, and Simon didnt resist.
This time Simon left not with the same proud air as before. He packed his things again on a Saturday, their day off, with the kids away at school. He tossed a brief, Sorry, I was wrong, and walked out. Only this time Evelyn didnt cry or beg him to stay; she pretended to watch television, feeling like a complete failure.
She wasnt in despair like before, just angry at herself for giving in to weakness, believing and taking him back. She fought to keep her dignity. Only when the door shut behind him did she let the emotions out and wept.
By the time Jack and Rosie got home from school, she had calmed down. When Evelyn told them about their fathers actions, they even cheered.
Well, thats that, Jack said. Well manage without him. Maybe its better this way!
Simon returned to Olivia like a king: shed called him, so she must love him! He behaved as if the whole world revolved around him. After all, he was needed not only by her but his exwife would always take him in. Yet with such swagger he lasted only a month with Olivia before she threw him out again.
So Simon stood once more on Evelyns doorstep, eyes lowered, convinced shed forgive him again. But things didnt go as plannedEvelyn didnt even let him cross the threshold.
You were right back then, she said calmly. It was a mistake for us to get back together. Some wounds cant be healed; sometimes they must be cut away. Dont come back.
Simon could not believe hed become unwanted. Fine, his young wife didnt need himshe was flighty. But the kids! Hed raised them! Yet his exwife didnt want him He never expected such betrayal. Who could have guessed these women needed something else?
