35
Sabrina’s POV
“Every day, I woke up alone. I made breakfast that you often didn’t have time to eat. I waited until late at night for you to come home, only to hear your footsteps enter the room without a word. I tried to hold on, Nicholas. Because I knew you were Charlie’s father and I loved him more than anything!
My voice cracked as I said Charlie’s name. Nicholas looked surprised, but he didn’t say anything.
“Charlie was the reason I held on,” I continued, my voice shaking. “He was my happiness. Seeing his smile and hearing his laugh made all the loneliness lessen. But then. Hazel came along.”
Nicholas looked tense as I said the name, but I didn’t care. had to say it all.
“When Hazel came along, everything changed. You’re growing apart, Nicholas. And the worst part is that Charlie is slowly drifting away from me. I feel like I’m losing everything. You’re busy with Hazel, with your job, and Charlie… he spends more time with her than with me. I don’t know what to do. I feel like there’s no place for me in your lives anymore.”
The tears were flowing freely now, but I didn’t care. I had to get it all out, no matter what.
“That’s why I asked for a divorce,” I said, my voice full of emotion. “I didn’t ask for much from you, Nicholas, I just wanted to feel appreciated. I just wanted to feel like I was a part of your life and Charlie’s. But when you and Hazel were so close, and Charlie had to choose her, I felt like a stranger in my own home. And that… that broke me.”
Nicholas took a deep breath, and I saw his eyes well up with tears. But I wasn’t done yet.
“I know I’m not perfect. I know I’m not the perfect wife or the perfect mother. But I’m always trying, Nicholas. I’m trying to be the best I can be for Charlie. And watching her slowly slip away from me was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced.”
I looked at Nicholas, hoping he could see how devastated I was. “So, if you’re asking why I want a divorce, this is why. It’s not because I don’t care about you or Charlie. It’s the opposite. I love you both too much to feel this way. But I don’t know how to go on. I’m tired of feeling alone.”
Nicholas didn’t say anything for a long time. I could see the tears welling up in his eyes, but he wouldn’t let them fall. Finally, he took a deep breath and said, “Sabrina, L..
He paused as if he didn’t know what to say.
“I’m sorry,” he said finally, his voice soft and full of regret. “I never realized how hard this was on you. I never realized I was making you feel this way. I thought… I thought I was doing what was best for our family, but I was wrong.”
I just stared at him, not knowing what to say.
“I didn’t know about your loneliness,” he continued. “And I didn’t know that I made you feel like a stranger in my life. I’m sorry, Sabrina. I’m so sorry.”
He gripped my hand tighter, as if afraid I would leave. “I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to lose Charlie. I know I’ve done a lot of things wrong, but I want to fix it. Please, give me a chance to fix it.”
My tears started flowing again, but this time I couldn’t tell if it was from pain or hope. At this moment, I could feel the sincerity in his voice.
“… I want to believe you,” I said, my voice shaking. “But everything feels so complicated.”
35
5
+25 BONUS
Nicholas nodded, his face full of understanding “I low. Nothing about this is easy. But I promise I’ll try my best. We can get through this together.”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. The pain in my heart was still there, but his presence brought a little light to the darkness. For the first time, I felt like there was hope to hold on to.
“Can we start here?” I asked, my voice a little firmer.
Nicholas smiled, his eyes sparkling. “Yes, we can start here I’ll do my best for you.”
With his words, comfort slowly filled the space between us. Maybe, just maybe, this was the first step towards
recovery.
Nicholas‘ POV
I walked out of Sabrina’s ward with a heavy heart. I closed the door slowly, making sure no sound could disturb her. Her tired sleeping face was still vivid in my mind. God, how could I have been so blind all this time?
Every step I took felt heavy as if a weight was following me. Memories of our laughter and jokes flashed, but now they all felt like shadows. Why didn’t I see the obvious signs? Regret crept into me.
In the quiet hospital hallway, I tried to calm my mind. Maybe there was a way to fix everything, to show that I cared. But how? I felt trapped in a deep sense of guilt.
As I walked into the waiting room, the faint voices of other patients and their families filled the air. In the midst of the noise, I felt so alone.
“I have to do something,” I whispered to myself. “I can’t keep letting her go on like this.”
My heart raced as I resolved to face this. Maybe, by taking the first step, I could help Sabrina and mend our shaky relationship.
I leaned back against the wall of the hospital corridor, trying to catch my breath. Sabrina’s words kept ringing in my ears, stabbing me mercilessly. ‘I’m lonely,‘ It was a simple word, but it felt like a sharp knife stabbing into my chest.
I had always thought that providing material things and comfort was enough to show that I cared. It turned out I was so wrong. Guilt coursed through me, reminding me that emotional attention and a real presence were far more important than any material things I could give.
36
