William Left Anna and the Children for Another Woman, But After Overcoming a Deep Depression, Anna Experienced Something Truly Unexpected

March 24th

I didnt come back from work empty-handed today. I do like stopping by the corner shop on my way home, choosing a little bottle of red to mark the end of the day. Theres a comfort to the routinea glass with dinner to quiet my thoughts. But tonight, the sight that met me at our flats door spun my world upside down: my common-law husband, William, was packing his things.

Have you finally found a job, Will? Taking a night shift? I asked, half-joking, trying to keep things light. No, he snapped, Im leaving.

I stared at him, stunned. But its nearly ten at nightwhere on earth will you go?

He wouldnt look at me. Are you deaf? I said Im leaving, Im done with you, you fool.

My legs gave out, and I dropped onto the worn kitchen chair. Was I hearing right? Is he unwell? We have two little children together. William, are you ill? I gave you these children, remember? I took you in when you had nothing, got you out of that car wash job, cleaned you up, fed you, made a decent man of you. You sat at home while I worked to keep us afloat

Was this really his gratitude? I wont abandon the children, Anna, but you yes. Im sick of coming home every night to find a bottle, while you bleat on about your appetite. Rebeccas not like that. Rebecca doesnt stink of drinkshe smells sweet, like something lovely.

So he was leaving for Rebecca. Youre going to her then? Do you even know what shes about? She turned up in our town out of nowhereGod knows what happened where she was before. Youre daft if you think itll end well. He didnt say another word; just kicked the door shut and left me there.

After that, I all but crumbled. The urge to drink crept up every night, worse than before. I started showing up at my job in the alterations shop with a pounding head, unable to focus on my sewing. My hands wouldnt obey me. As the weeks bled together, I drank every evening and sometimes forgot to make dinner for the kids. They survived on whatever the nursery fed them during the day.

Our home fell apart all around meeverything reeked of old smoke, food went mouldy in the pots, and the children were sometimes left to run wild and dirty. Eventually, someone must have reported us; the housing officer arrived, and my children were taken away. They said I had one last chanceI had a job, I had the flat, I just had to get a grip on myself.

I asked my supervisor for a short leave, then spent days on my bed, unable to rise. But, somehow, I managed not to open another bottle. On the fifth day, when the cravings became almost more than I could bear, I forced myself up, cleaned the flat, and dragged myself back to work. Each day, I busied myself with chores after work, desperate to keep the thoughts at bay.

A few months on, I got my children backsocial services still popped by to check on us, but I hung on, fighting the urge to fall back. My children mattered more than my old habits. Even when word got to me that William had proposed to Ishii (could you imagine?), I didnt give in. It felt like a knife, knowing all wed built, eight years together, meant so little now.

Some time later, William turned up at my door, face battered and bruised. Anna, he wheezed, Im sorry. Rebecca was running away from her husband. He found her; came at me, beat me senseless, then dragged her off.

I looked him in the eyehe was still the father of my kids, still the man Id once tried to save, but Id learned my lesson. Thank you, William, for the children, and for what you taught me. But youre not coming back. Just go.

Tonight, I poured the wine down the sink. Theres nothing left for me in the past but lessons, and two little faces counting on me to remember them.