Leave and never return.
Simon, I saw an ad last night for a threebedroom flat in the area weve been looking at. Its exactly what we need, and we could afford it, right? Once we sell the house we could help Evelyn pay off her mortgage. Lets go see it, Kate Hughes said, her eyes bright with excitement.
Simon waved her off, tired. Not today. I was up until midnight finishing a report yesterday, and today Ill be late again. He gulped the last of his coffee, grabbed the car keys and a folder of papers, and left.
Kate sighed, not wanting to argue. She hated how Simon had hardly been home latelylate arrivals, weekend workthough his salary was good. Kate longed to move to the city, closer to their daughter, and had saved for years. Every penny Simon earned went into a joint savings account while they lived on his mothers pension and Kates wage as the manager of the local community centre, where she also ran a dance club. It was a hard life, but the dream of living in the town centre and working in a grand theatre kept her going.
Kate and Simon had met in the county town. He was finishing his final year at university, she was a student at the regional dance academy. They fell in love so quickly that, as soon as Simon received his degree, they married and moved to his parents small town. Kate dropped out after a year, but she never regretted it; she now had a husband and a future she believed would be happy.
Their married life started badly. Within weeks of moving in, Simon was conscripted for a year of army service. Kate was already upset about the impending separation, and then Simons mother, Margaret Clarke, arrived. From the moment she saw her son with a legal wife, she despised Kate and refused to speak to Simon, accusing him, You promised!
Kate tried to win her over, helped with chores, offered any assistance, but nothing changed. Why didnt you call Mum before you married? What did you promise her? she asked Simon. He explained that two years earlier his sister had died in a drunken motorcycle crash with a boy who had just been released from prison. After the funeral, Margaret had made Simon swear never to marry without her blessing. He broke that promise, and his mother was still angry.
Simon wasnt sure whether to let Kate stay with Margaret, but Kate insisted she would not leave; she loved him and wanted to befriend his mother. Her perseverance worked. Within weeks Margarets heart softened. She saw Kates hard work, cheerfulness and kindness, and could not deny that Simon had chosen a worthy partner. Kate also confided that her own mother had died eleven years earlier; her father had remarried a woman with two small children who declared Kate had to fend for herself. I didnt marry Simon for the money, Kate blushed under Margarets stern gaze, I need him, I love him.
Margaret, moved, embraced Kate, tears of sorrow and relief mixing in her eyes. She felt a weight lift from her heart.
A year later Simon returned, taking a job at the district office, commuting daily. Kate became the organiser and head of the dance club at the new town hall. Their pay was modest, and soon their daughter Evelyn was born. Money was tight, but Margaret helped, looking after the granddaughter and never holding back.
When Simon moved to a larger firm, his salary multiplied. The small towns club was replaced by a spacious cultural centre, and Kate was appointed its manager, while she kept teaching her beloved dance group, taking the girls to competitions where they often won prizes. Their lives settled into comfort: a nice car, home renovations, seaside holidays.
Everything was fine until Evelyn left for university in the county town and got married. Kate missed her daughter and remembered her dream of working in a grand theatre. She suggested they sell the house, buy a threebedroom flat in the city where Evelyn lived, and use the proceeds to help her with her mortgage. Simon thought it over, then gladly agreed, noting that their firm had a branch there, so he could transfer. He warned that they would have to stash his whole salary in a bank account and live on Margarets pension and Kates earnings. The family council approved, and they began saving.
Life grew harder. Kate never complained; she had never been spoiled. Simon started staying later and later at work, claiming extra responsibilities for higher pay. Kate believed him, but the growing distance worried her. When she timidly mentioned it, Simon snapped, I work from dawn till dusk to earn more. Stop nagging me! Decidedo you want me at home or a flat in the city? Do you want a grandchild or a grandson? Just be quiet and endure.
Kate swallowed her frustration. One night, after Simon arrived home at half past one, she finally said she no longer wanted to move, that she was happy as they were, but she needed him at home in the evenings, to share time together, to visit friends. Simon listened, stripped, and went to bed silent, turning his back to the wall. He returned late again the next night.
Then Simon vanished. He left for work one morning and never came back. His phone was off; Kate could not contact any of his colleagues because he never spoke about his job. After calling the morgue and hospitals, terrified and crying, she decided to go to the city office where he had worked.
Margaret stood beside her, sighing heavily, eyes rimmed with sleeplessness. Dont worry, Mum, well find him, alive and well, Kate whispered, hugging her motherinlaw. Tears welled, but Kate forced herself to stay strong, muttering, Hell be found, I know it.
A familiar voice called from a bus stop. Hey, you heading to the city? We could go together. Did you hear theyre buying a new car? Maybe youll sell yours cheap?
What are you talking about? Kate asked, confused.
Thats what I heardSimon withdrew a huge sum from his account at the bank a few days ago. I thought hed buy something, but then I saw the utility bill he paid. Did you know?
Kates face went pale. The thought of that money made her dread what might have happened. She raced to the office, only to discover that Simon had recently been terminated. The secretary said hed moved to another job, but no one knew where. Kate then filed a missingperson report. The police took her seriously, recorded her concerns, and promised a search.
The next day an officer called. Why didnt you tell us you divorced three months ago? That changes everything. Did you find any of his documents at home? He took everything with him?
Kate stared at the officer, bewildered. She was shown a copy of a divorce decree and a marriageregistration record. She had no idea. When she returned home and told Margaret, the older woman gasped, covering her mouth.
What? Kate managed after a minute.
Im sorry, its my fault, Margaret whispered, trembling. Simon told me about court summons in your name for a loan the scammers had taken out. He asked me to hide the papers so you wouldnt be upset. He promised a friendly judge would sort it. I didnt realise hed actually forged the divorce. I never meant to keep this from you.
So he tricked me into a divorce? Truly? Kate whispered, sinking onto the sofa, confused and hurt.
Today he messaged me that hes run off with another woman and theyll be married soon. He took all his money, saying it was his wages, Margaret said, tears streaming. I thought of moving into a care home and leaving the house to you, hoping youd forgive me.
Kate stood, walked outside, and stood in the courtyard, shivering as if from an icy wind that seemed to come from within. She remembered planting lilacs and birch trees by the fence with Simon years ago, watching him pull Evelyn on a sled in winter, chasing a runaway pig together, laughing. The memories flooded her, and she wept for the emptiness in her heart.
I wont let you go, Mum, Kate said firmly, returning inside. Simon betrayed me, not you. I love you as my own mother and know you would never hurt me. She embraced Margaret tightly.
Later that evening, both women called Evelyn and told her everything. Evelyn, horrified by her fathers betrayal, swore she would never forgive him. She then invited her mother and grandmother to move in with her. Were expecting twins soon, and we need you both. Sell your house, come to our threebedroom flat; theres room for everyone.
Kate and Margaret exchanged a tearful smile and agreed.
Simon did return once, hoping to see his family, but Evelyn never opened the door. He may have wanted redemption, but no one was waiting for himnot even his mother.
The story ends with a simple truth: love and loyalty are earned through honesty and effort, not through promises that hide truth. When trust is broken, only truth and compassion can rebuild a life.
