Impossible

Written for https://lindaghill.com/2024/03/08/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-9-2024/

Signing on the dotted line had never been so difficult. Part of her thought it was the right decision. Arguments were far more harmful than staying together.

However, being a single parent, unable to give her what other children took for granted, caused sleepless weeks. Mary gently turned the pages. All smiles for the camera. Dressed all in white lace, moving away was impossible. They were in love once.

Proud parents beamed.

Did she regret marrying him? She stared at the fading bruises on her wrist. A good, thick jumper hid all ails. Ping, ping, ping. Text messages, one after the other. ‘Please don’t do this. Think of Sheila. I will change.‘

No, you won’t,’ she whispered, her hands hovering over the pen. ‘How many times have you told me sorry? Only for it to happen again.’

‘Mummy, what are you doing?’

She couldn’t reveal the truth; her four years old, her daughter did not comprehend why they were living apart. Attempting to keep the abuse secret, she wanted to protect her baby from terror.

Ping. ‘I love you.’

This divorce, and she could still walk another path. Try again? Two parents were better than one.

‘I have made you a card, at nursery,’ Sheila said, passing it along the table. On the front was a drawing. She traced her fingers over the spaghetti hair and rounded bodies. Painted blue and pink, they were both building a snowman out of sweet wrappers. Their grins spread right to the ends of their cheeks.

‘This is lovely. Thank you.’

‘I enjoy sleeping at Aunty Barbara’s. She is nice, and it is quiet here.’

She picked it up and signed.