Didn’t Want to Get Married, But Mum Made Me Do It

“Didnt Want to Marry Mum Made Me”

“Tom, can you look after Billy?” called Emily towards the bedroom as she adjusted her scarf in the mirror. “Ill be back by six. Dont forget to feed him lunchits all ready in the fridge, just needs heating.”

The Saturday had turned out unexpectedly hectica crisis at work meant her boss asked her to come in on her day off. No one else could handle it. Emily agreed without hesitation. Her job wasnt just about the pay; it gave her a sense of purpose.

Five-year-old Billy was happily playing with his toy cars in his room, murmuring engine noises. A typical weekend morning. Shed already checked her bag, grabbed her keys, when Thomas stepped out of the bedroom.

“No,” he said flatly.

Emily froze, her hand on the door handle. She turned, staring at her husband in disbelief.

“What?”
“Im not babysitting today,” Thomas repeated, walking past her to grab his coat. “Ive got plans.”

Emily couldnt believe her ears. Six years of marriage, and never once had he refused to watch their son. Thomas had always seemed like the perfect father. She stood there, trying to make sense of it, while he slipped on his shoes and headed for the door.

“Tom, whats going on?” Emily stepped towards him, but he sidestepped her like she was furniture.
“Nothings going on,” he muttered, leaving without a backward glance.

The door shut behind him. Emily stood in the hallway, gripping her handbag strap, her stomach in knots. She had to be at work in an hour. Just one hour! She snatched her phone, fingers trembling as she dialled her mum.

“Mum, Im so sorryI need help. Can you come watch Billy? Its urgent.”

Thankfully, her mother didnt ask questions.

Emily quickly realised her mum wouldnt make it in time. She rushed next door to Mrs. Thompson, their elderly neighbour whod helped out before. She rang the bell, practically pleading when the door opened.

“Mrs. Thompson, pleasecould you watch Billy for half an hour until my mum gets here? Works gone mad, and Tom… Tom just left.”

The old woman sighed but agreed. Emily hurried back, explained to Billy hed be with Mrs. Thompson for a bit, then dashed out. The whole way to the office, her mind reeled. What just happened? Why had Thomas acted like that? Had they argued without her even noticing? She combed through the last few daysnothing stood out. Just last night, theyd had dinner, watched a film, even talked about their week.

At work, everything blurred. She went through the motions while her thoughts circled back to Thomas.

She texted him three times:

“Where are you?”
“Whats wrong?”
“Why did you do that?”

No reply. The phone stayed silent. She checked it every five minutesnothing.

That evening, Emily hurried her mum home.

“Thank you so much. I dont know what Id do without you.”

Her mother stroked her hair like she used to when Emily was little.

“Its alright, love. But whats happened? Wheres Tom?”
“I dont know. He left this morning and hasnt come back.”

She saw her mum out. The flat was eerily quiet. Emily tiptoed into Billys room, watching him sleep, his arms wrapped around a teddy. So small, so trusting. She brushed his hair, kissed his forehead, and slipped out.

Thomas finally reappeared two hours later. Emily had showered, changed, and drunk a cup of tea to steady herself. At the sound of his key in the lock, she stiffened. He walked in as casually as hed left, hung up his coat, and headed to the sofa.

Emily blocked his path.

“What the hell was that?”

Thomas looked up, his expression indifferent. Shed seen that look from strangersnever from her husband, Billys father.

“Im done pretending,” he said.

Emilys blood pounded in her ears. She sank onto the armchair, never taking her eyes off him.

“Pretending what?”
“This. The marriage. You. The kid.”

She searched his face for any hint of a joke. There was none.

“What are you saying?” she forced out, gripping the chair arms.
“Exactly what I just said.” He shrugged. “I never wanted to marry you, Emily. My mum pushed me into it. Said you were kind, decentthe sort of woman Id regret letting go. I stuck it out for six years. But I cant anymore. This marriage is suffocating me.”

Emilys eyes stung, but she refused to cry. Not now. Not in front of him.

“Then why wait so long? If it was that bad, why not leave sooner?”

Thomas scowled.

“For you. The kids older now. You can manage alone. If Id left earlier, it wouldve been harder for you. So I waited.”

Emily laugheda bitter, broken sound. She stared at him like he was a stranger.

“How generous of you,” she spat, wiping her tears.
“You should be grateful!” Thomas snapped. “I never cheated. I stayed faithful. Do you have any idea how hard that was?”
“Grateful?” She shot to her feet. “For what? For not cheating? I didnt drag you down the aisle, Tom! You proposed. You got down on one knee. You said you loved me. Or was that your mums idea too?”

Thomas stood abruptly.

“She pressured me! You dont get it! She said Id regret it if I let you go. That women like you dont stay single long.”
“And do you?” Emily stepped closer. “Do you regret marrying me? The kind, decent woman?”
“I regret this whole bloody marriage!” He flung a hand towards Billys room. “I wanted something else. I got stuck with you, your nagging, and a kid I never planned.”
“Billy was unplanned?” Her voice turned icy. “Youre saying our son was a mistake?”
“Thats not what I meant,” Thomas backtracked, but Emily wasnt letting him off.
“Thats exactly what you meant. You think we ruined your life. So tell mewhy stay? Why not leave when I got pregnant? Why play the loving husband and father?”
“Because I had to!” His fists clenched. “Because my mum said I couldnt abandon you with a baby. That itd shame the family. So I stayed. But Im done.”

Emily exhaled. The disappointment was crushing.

“Get out.”
“What?”
“Leave. Take your things and go. Never come back. Billy and I dont need you.”

Thomas faltered. Hed expected tears, beggingnot this cold dismissal.

“Emily, lets just”
“Go!” she screamed, the raw pain in her voice making him flinch.

He packed in silenceclothes, documents, phone. Emily stood by the door, unmoving. When he brushed past her into the hall, she didnt look at him. The door slammed shut.

Alone, she collapsed onto the bed, face buried in the pillow. The tears shed held back all night finally broke free. She sobbed until her throat ached, muffling the sounds so Billy wouldnt wake. It felt endless, like the grief would burn her alive.

Dawn crept in. Exhausted, hollow, Emily stared at the ceiling. Then something shifted. In the next room, Billy slepther son, her little boy, whod done nothing wrong. She stood, splashed cold water on her face, and met her reflection: swollen eyes, pale skin. But she was alive. Shed survive.

For Billy. For herself. Shed manage. Trust was broken, but that didnt matter. The only thing that did was the two of them, together.