THE DAY SHE WENT AWAY

He couldn't believe it. This was not happening. He pinched himself, yes it was real. But why? Why was she going, what has he done?

They were sitting in the room. He asked her softly on the verge of tears. She bowed her head. He asked her, "So you have made up your mind? You really want to go? She nodded silently. He was confused. What has he done, or rather what has he not done. "What about the kids, if you can't stay for me, can't you at least think about the kids?" He was playing his last card. "I have made up my mind, I am not happy with you anymore. I have to find myself. I will come back for the kids when I have settled down," she whispered.

Jon and Edith have been married for 8 years. When they got married, everyone thought they were a perfect match. Edith was gorgeous and Jon strikingly handsome. They were so much in love or so it seemed. After a year into their marriage, a beautiful baby boy was born. In the fifth year, another baby, a girl was born. The family was complete. He thought he had everything, a beautiful wife, 2 lovely kids, a comfortable home. What more could he want. During the 8 years into their marriage, they never fought. Sure there were small tiffs here and there, but nothing serious. In the early years, Edith always made sure she spend the time with the kids during her free time. Lately, she was always doing something like direct selling meetings and outstations. He always give in to her every needs and he never questioned when she comes back late at night or when she suddenly have to go away for a weekend. He never suspected anything and trusted her implicitly. He also never suspected when she was always on her mobile, SMSing, sometimes talking softly. She would always tell him that the call was from a friend and they were talking about their direct-selling business. Yes he trusted her. He never saw it coming.

Was it his fault? His fault for giving in too much to her? He kept on thinking what had gone wrong? His heart was being shredded and yet he couldn't shout or get angry. Jon was in denial, still thinking it was not happening and perhaps it was just a bad dream.

He saw her packed and he left the room. Before that, he told her that she would have to tell the kids herself. He had tried his best, he begged her to think about it. He asked her, who is the man? Does he know him? She remained silent. He went out to the backyard. There he sat on the garden chair, looking at the beautifully landscaped small garden of roses, daisies, lilies, shrubs of herbs that she planted, the cotton candy clouds, the soft gentle breeze, the blackbirds, butterflies. Everything seemed normal. Don't they know he was dying inside?

After a while, he heard her calling him softly, telling him goodbye. He didn't turn. He heard the children cry and the nanny comforting them. He heard the car being driven from their driveway. She had left, she really left. Still he couldn't believe it. He turned to the direction of the driveway, he saw the tail light of her car, it stopped for a moment, then it moved and disappeared. His world has crashed. Then the floodgates of emotion shooked him. He was devastated, he felt cold and hot and then he began to sob. He cried for hours until he couldn't cry anymore. He couldn't remember how long he sat there. It was dark, and when he looked up to the west, to see the last ray of sunset, he gave a deep sigh and put a closure to the event. He heard his little girl calling and running out to him "daddy, daddy" with her outstretched hands. He got up knelt down and scooped the 3-year old, his precious daughter. His son was standing near the door, smiling and Jon felt, he has his world right here, with his beloved kids..and no one can take them away from him, not even their mother...