Chapter 14 Emotional Breakdown

I am going to my mother’s house today, and I’m already prepared and dressed. I locked my door, my hand lingering on the knob for a second. I don’t know what I’m going to face there. I just prayed we would be able to solve their issue somehow.

As I walked to the bus stop, the morning air felt too sharp on my skin. Every sound, from cars passing to people talking, felt louder than normal. I tried to ignore it. I entered the bus to their place and leaned my head on the window, hoping the movement would calm me. It didn’t.

When I reached the house and stepped inside, the tense atmosphere hit me immediately. The air felt thick, like sadness had soaked into the walls. I could even smell something like dried tears and old arguments. Maybe it was just my mind exaggerating things, or maybe it was the strange sensitivity happening to me lately.

I met my mom sitting on the chair in the living room. Her back was straight, her face arranged into that hard expression she uses to hide everything. But I noticed her fingers shaking slightly.

“Good morning, Mom. How are you? How are you feeling?” I asked.

“I’m fine, dear. And you? How are you? Have you gotten a job?” she asked, still putting on that strong front.

I didn’t expose her. “I’m fine, Mom. Where is he?” I asked quietly.

“There, he is,” she said, pointing at my dad who was just entering. Even her voice sounded tired, like she was holding herself together with threads.

“Hi, Dad. Good morning. How are you?” I asked.

“I’m fine. As she called you to beat me,” he said immediately, his tone full of sarcasm. “Anyway, it’s good that you’re here. You might have heard we are getting a divorce.” He said it as if he was announcing the weather, no remorse, no shame.

My jaw tightened. The audacity of this man.

“Please, can you tell me why?” I asked, feeling anger simmer at the edge of my voice.

“I have found a new love,” he said plainly. “Our relationship ended a long time ago. Since I have found the one for me, there is no need to stay in a relationship that doesn’t exist.”

My mother’s shoulder flinched just barely, but I caught it. She looked away quickly, pretending she didn’t care. But I could hear her heartbeat speeding up. Maybe it was normal or maybe it was another one of my heightened senses kicking in again.

“So because you found a new love you think you can leave a relationship of many years? To leave her for another woman?” I asked, unable to hide the bitterness in my voice. My hands were already shaking slightly from anger.

“Yes, and you have no right to question me. I do what I want,” he said, crossing his arms with arrogance. He didn’t even look ashamed, just proud, like he had every right to destroy our family.

“That’s it, you are always so selfish, only thinking about yourself.” My voice rose despite my attempt to stay calm. “Have you thought about how she will feel if you leave? You ruined her life. She has spent her youth with you, and now you are leaving when she is no longer young.”

He shrugged, completely unbothered. “No matter what you say, we are getting a divorce.”

The audacity of this man. My anger flared so hot I could feel it buzzing under my skin.

“You are nothing but a cheater, a man. I will pray that no woman out there should meet,” I said, my voice trembling with rage. “Marrying you or dating you is a nightmare. You complain that your relationship is toxic and you two can’t stand each other. Ask yourself who caused it. She has given her all to you.”

He stepped forward, frowning. “How did I cause it? Don’t talk to me anyhow, young girl. It is her choice to stay married to me. I didn’t force her.”

I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “You are an ingrate. You know what? Though both of you are not the best parents, especially you, I can say Mom tried her best to be there for me despite this unhealthy environment.”

I turned to my mom. She was sitting stiffly, hands trembling in her lap, eyes glossy but refusing to fall. She looked so small so fragile, yet still trying to hold herself together.

“Since childhood I have watched as you both argue,” I continued, turning back to him. “And after you left, how she would cry silently. She may say she doesn’t love you. But I know very well she still has feelings for you. But not every woman can forgive a man who cheated on her. We are not the same. Some might forgive their husbands, but some might not and walk away.”

He opened his mouth but I cut him off.

“But she also has her faults,” I said. “She should have walked away immediately, you cheated and didn’t feel remorse. You think it’s in your blood, that all men cheat. She should have divorced you immediately she found out and not stayed in a relationship where she was hurting herself daily.”

He rolled his eyes, scoffing.

“If you want a divorce, then fine. You can go,” I said. “But you will leave this marriage with nothing.”

Mom’s breath caught, her whole body stiffening as if the words shocked her too.

“Why should I leave with nothing?” he barked. “I will give her fifty percent of my property. Not that we are rich or something, just two houses and a car. I will give her one house and some cash.”

I stepped toward him, matching his glare. “I think you’ve forgotten who owns the two houses. You own nothing. Everything was bought with her hard-earned money. Even if she wasn’t the owner, the fact that you cheated is enough reason for you to leave empty-handed.”

His nostrils flared as he glared at both of us. “So that’s both your plan? To take everything? It is a dream. Now I have decided I will give you nothing.”

He turned sharply and stormed out, the door slamming so hard the windows rattled.

The moment he left, the strength drained out of my mother. Her face crumpled, and for the first time in my life, she ran into my arms, her body shaking violently as she finally let her tears fall.

I held her tightly as she cried, the weight of years of pain pouring out in sobs she had buried for too long.

“Cry it out, mom. Sometimes it is better to let go than to stay and suffer. You might not be the best mom, but you tried your best. And it hurts me to see you suffer like this. Your relationship ended ages ago, like he said. There is no need to hold onto something that’s destroying your mental health,” I said softly, patting her back as she cried into my shoulder.

Up close, I could feel how tense her body was. Her hands were shaking. Her breath came in uneven little gasps, the kind you only hear when someone has been hurting for too long.

“I know, my child,” she whispered, wiping her face. “But I couldn’t help myself. Why did I fall in love with him? I must have been blind then. He is no longer the man I fell for. The man I fell for would never let me shed tears. He has changed. And what you said is true.” She gave a small, sad smile. “I was tormenting both of us by shackling us in this unwanted relationship. It is finally time to let go.”

I knew she was trying to act strong, but I could still feel the heaviness around her, like her sadness was something thick in the air. She may have spoken the words, but her heart would take time to catch up. Healing doesn’t happen in a day.

“Let’s go to your room so you can rest. I’ll cook something and call you when it’s ready,” I said gently.

I walked her to her room. Her steps were small and tired, and even without looking, I could sense her pain as if my body was picking it up. Maybe it was another one of those strange traits waking up again.

“Mom, don’t worry about the divorce. I will sort it out,” I said as she lay down on the bed. She looked fragile in a way I had never seen before.

“Also I’ll stay here tonight,” I added.

“Alright,” she whispered.

I pulled the blanket over her and quietly walked out, closing the door behind me. The house felt different now quieter, heavier like all the years of pain were finally settling in the walls.

And somewhere deep inside me, something else stirred too a strange sensation I couldn’t name yet.

I walked to my room, the weight of exhaustion bearing down on me. I don't have the appetite or strength to cook, I just told mom that I know she will not eat even if I cook. 

I walked to the bed and sat at the edge, my thoughts swirling in a vortex of frustration and hurt. “Why are men like this? A woman will sacrifice a lot for them and they will still cheat on her. Why do they always think a woman should forgive them even after they were caught cheating? Are they mad, are women also not human beings? We also have feelings, it hurts a lot when the man you love cheat on you, it breaks you. They have always got away with whatever they do. It is so irritating” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

As the hours passed in a blur, night crept in, shrouding my room in darkness. I don't have the strength to cook, so I ordered food, and mom and I ate together in silence, our meal a hollow substitute for the comfort we both craved. We parted ways, retreating to our separate rooms, and I lay down, my body heavy with weariness. 

But as I drifted into the darkness, a sudden sound pierced the stillness and a howl, like a wolf's cry, echoed through the night. I sat up with a start, my heart racing, and looked towards my window. And that's when I saw.