Longing For My Ex-Wife

“Mom, I want milk!”

Little Jamie threw his toy truck across the room. His small face was red with anger, and his tiny fists were balled up tightly.

“I said no, Jamie,” Maya said firmly, walking over and picking up the toy. “You know milk will make you sick.”

“But I want it!” Jamie screamed louder, his voice echoing through the living room.

Maya knelt beside her son and tried to calm him down. “You’re allergic, sweetheart. Milk isn’t good for you. It could make your tummy hurt and make it hard for you to breathe.”

Jamie didn’t understand. He was only four years old. He thought his mom was just being mean.

Right then, the front door opened. Lena walked in with her usual bright smile. She wore a tight white blouse, a beige skirt, and expensive heels that clicked across the wooden floor. Her dark hair was tied neatly, and a designer handbag hung from her shoulder.

Lena was Daniel’s friend who just came back from abroad and wouldn’t stop coming to the house even though Maya doesn’t like her because she feels Lena do too much

“What’s going on here?” she asked cheerfully. “I could hear him from outside!”

Maya stood up slowly, her face already tight with frustration. “He wants milk again. I told him no.”

Lena walked over to Jamie and bent down with a sweet voice. “Aw, poor baby. Why not give him just a little bit? Kids need milk to grow strong. It has protein, you know.”

“I’m not giving him milk,” Maya replied quickly, her voice sharp. “He’s allergic. His doctor said no dairy. At all.”

Lena raised her eyebrows. “Come on, Maya. A small sip won’t hurt. In fact, some allergies happen because children don’t eat enough of something. You’re being too strict.”

Maya folded her arms across her chest. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. This isn’t something to play with. Last time, he couldn’t breathe and we had to rush to the hospital.”

“Oh, you’re just overreacting,” Lena said with a fake laugh. “I studied child development. I know how these things work. He’ll grow out of it if you stop being so cautious.”

“And I’m his mother,” Maya snapped. “I’ve been dealing with this since he was a baby. So don’t tell me what to do with my own son.”

Lena stood up, her smile now tight and forced. “Fine, I was just trying to help.” She looked at Jamie, who was still pouting. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go outside and play for a bit. Mommy needs a little break.”

Before Maya could say anything, Lena took Jamie’s hand and led him outside. Maya hesitated, but her son seemed calm now, so she let them go.

She sat down on the couch, running her hand through her hair. She was tired. So tired of this same fight, over and over again.

A few minutes later, the door opened again.her husband, Daniel, stepped inside. He looked surprised to see her alone.

“Where’s Jamie?” he asked, setting down a folder.

“Outside with your friend,” Maya replied coldly.

Daniel sighed and sat down across from her. “Lena just got back from studying abroad. She’s been trying to help.”

“She’s not helping,” Maya said sharply. “She keeps acting like she knows more about my own child than I do. And you let her.”

“She didn’t mean anything bad,” Maya replied. “She didn’t know about Jamie’s allergy.”

Maya looked at him like he had grown two heads.

“Are you serious? I’ve told her three times. You’ve told her. I even showed her his medical report! She doesn’t want to understand. And you keep defending her.”

“She’s a child specialist. Maybe what she said has some truth. You know, kids grow out of these things.”

Maya stood up. Her voice shook with anger now. “You always say that. Every single time she criticizes me, you take her side. Do you even hear yourself? She’s a guest in my house, telling me how to raise my son.”

“She’s my friend,” Daniel said quietly.

“Exactly,” Maya shot back. “Your friend. Not his mother. Not his doctor. And she’s not the one who stays up all night when he can’t breathe, or when he breaks out in rashes from a bite of cake someone sneaked to him.”

Daniel looked down, not knowing what to say.

Suddenly, a loud scream came from the backyard.

Both of them froze. A second later, a maid ran in, her face pale.

“Ma’am! Jamie collapsed! He’s not moving!”

Maya felt like the air had been punched out of her chest. She jumped to her feet, heart pounding.

“What happened?” Daniel asked as he rushed beside her.

“He ate something,” the maid stammered. “I don’t know what, but he’s having a reaction!”

They sprinted outside.

Jamie lay on the ground, his face red and swollen, hives spreading across his skin. His small chest moved up and down too fast, like he was struggling to breathe.

Lena knelt beside him, panic written all over her face. “I—I only gave him a bite of the cake I brought. I didn’t know it had eggs!”

“You what?!” Maya screamed, running to her son. She dropped beside him and checked his pulse.

“I didn’t mean to—he was just hungry and I thought—”

“You thought?” Maya shouted. “I told you a thousand times—he’s allergic! You just had to play expert again!”

Lena stepped back, tears in her eyes. “I swear, I didn’t mean to hurt him!”

“Get away from him!” Maya yelled. “I should’ve never let you take him!”

Daniel cut in, lifting Jamie carefully. “No time for this. We’re going to the hospital. Now.”

Maya didn’t argue. She grabbed her bag and followed Daniel as they rushed to the car.