“You Lied to Me!” Nick Stood in the Living Room, Red with Rage – “What Do You Mean I Lied?” – “You K…

You lied to me! Nicholas was fuming, standing right in the middle of the lounge, face red with anger.
What do you mean, I lied?
You knew. You knew you couldnt have children and you still married me!

Youll be a beautiful bride, Mum said, smoothing the veil, and Alice managed a smile at her own reflection in the mirror.

White dress, lace at the sleeves, Nicholas handsome in his sharp suit it was exactly like shed been dreaming of since she was fifteen: true love, a beautiful wedding, a house full of children. Lots of them. Nicholas always said he wanted a son, Alice wanted a daughter, so they settled on three, just to be fair.

Give it a year and Ill be the proudest grandma, Mum chuckled as she wiped at happy tears.

Alice believed every word.

The first few months of marriage flew by in a haze. Nicholas would come home from work, shed have dinner ready theyd fall asleep wrapped up in each other, and every morning, Alice would check her calendar with a flutter of hope. Was she late? No just her imagination. Another month. And then another.

By winter, Nicholas stopped asking Anything? with that hopeful smile. Now he just quietly watched her every time she came out of the bathroom.

Maybe we should see a doctor? she suggested, almost a year in, one dreary February evening.

Its about time, Nicholas grumbled, eyes glued to his phone.

The clinic smelt of bleach and resignation. Alice found herself waiting in line alongside other women whose faces had the same tired, resigned expression, idly flicking through a magazine filled with baby photos, trying to convince herself this was just bad luck. It would all work out in the end.

Tests. Scans. More tests. Names of procedures blurred together into one long shuffle through cold plastic chairs and the blank faces of nurses.

Your chances of conceiving naturally about five per cent, the doctor said, glancing back at her notes.

Alice nodded, scribbling in her diary, asking questions, but inside, she felt herself freeze.

Treatment started in March. And with it, came the changes.

Are you crying again? Nicholas stood in the bedroom doorway, his voice laced with irritation, not sympathy.

Its just the hormones.

Three months of this? Come off it, Alice. Im tired of this act.

She tried to explain that it was part of the treatment, that these things took time, that the doctors said maybe six months, maybe a year but Nicholas just slammed the door and walked out.

The first IVF cycle was set for the autumn. Alice stayed in bed for nearly two weeks, barely daring to move, terrified of ruining their miracle.

Negative, the nurse said bluntly, over the phone.

Alice simply sank to the floor in the hallway, sat there until Nicholas finally came home.

How much have we spent on all this? he asked, instead of are you alright.

Ive not counted, she mumbled.

Well, I have. Nearly thirty grand for what? (he meant thirty thousand pounds.)

She had no answer because there really wasnt one.

A second IVF try. Nicholas started coming home after midnight, smelling of someone elses perfume, but Alice never asked. She just didnt want to know anymore.

Another Im sorry, its negative.

Maybe its time to give up? Nicholas sat opposite her in the kitchen, turning his empty mug in his hands. How long are we going to do this?

The doctors say the third try is often lucky.

Doctors say whatever you pay them to!

The third attempt, Alice went through almost completely alone. Nicholas was working late every night. Friends stopped calling worn out by trying to cheer her up. Mum cried down the phone, saying, Why you? Youre so young and lovely Why?

When the nurse said unfortunately for the third time, Alice didnt even cry. The tears had run out somewhere between the second round of treatment and yet another row about money.

You lied to me

Nicholas stood in the lounge, red and shaking.

Lied? How?

You knew you knew you were infertile and still tricked me into marrying you!

I didnt! Alice insisted. I was only diagnosed a year after our wedding you were there when the doctor

Stop lying! He stepped closer and Alice instinctively moved away. You did this on purpose! Found a mug whod marry you then surprise, no kids!

Nicholas, please

Enough! He grabbed a vase off the table and hurled it at the wall. I deserve a proper family. With kids! Not this!

He pointed at her like she was something rotten. A mistake.

The arguments became daily. Nicholas would come home angry, sulk in silence, then explode over the smallest things: the remote not in its place, over-salted soup, stop breathing so loud.

Were getting divorced, he announced one morning.

What? No! Nicholas, we could adopt, Ive read

I dont want someone elses child! I want a child of my own. And a wife who can actually give me one.

Please, just give me one more chance. I love you.

Well, I dont love you. Not anymore.

He said it quietly, dead calm, looking straight into Alices eyes. That cut deeper than any of the shouting ever could.

Im packing my things, he told her that Friday evening.

Alice sat on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, watching as he tossed shirts into a suitcase. He couldnt keep his mouth shut even as he packed.

Im leaving because youre barren, Nicholas pressed on.

Ill find myself a real woman.

Alice didnt say a word.

The door slammed. The flat filled with silence. Thats when she finally cried properly, from the heart, ugly sobbing until her throat was raw.

The first weeks after the divorce were just a grey blur. Alice would get up, drink a cup of tea, go straight back to bed. Sometimes she forgot to eat. Sometimes she lost track of the days altogether.

Her friends came round, bringing food, cleaning the flat, trying to chat, but she just nodded, agreed with everything, then pulled the blanket over her head and stared at the ceiling.

But time, as it does, ticked on. Day after day, week after week. And one morning Alice woke up and thought: enough.

She got up, took a long shower, binned all her medication from the fridge, and signed up for the gym. At work, she asked for a new project a big one, three months, flat-out busy.

At weekends she started going on day trips, then got brave enough for little holidays Cambridge, Bath, the Lake District. Life didnt stop.

She met David in the bookshop they both reached for the last copy of a new Stephen King.

Ladies first, he smiled, stepping back.

How about this: I let you have it if you buy me a coffee? The words just flew out, and Alice surprised both of them.

He laughed, and the sound warmed her deep down.

Over coffee, he told her about his daughter, Sophie seven years old, hed been raising her alone since her mum died.

He spoke about tough first months, about Sophie calling for her mum at night, about learning to braid her hair by watching YouTube tutorials.

Youre a good dad, Alice said.

I try my best.

Alice didnt want to lead him on. By the third date, once they both realised this might be more than just a casual thing, she said it all clearly.

I cant have children. Its official. Ive had three failed IVF attempts. My ex left because of it. If thats a deal-breaker for you, best you know now.

David was silent for a long moment.

Ive got Sophie, he finally said. I just want you. Even if there wont be children of our own.

But

You can do it, he interrupted gently.

What do you mean?

Be a mum. You already are, if you want to be. My own mum was told the same, by the way. And yet here I am, talking to you now. Sometimes, miracles happen.

Sophie warmed to her amazingly quickly. At their first meeting she was sullen, quiet, answered in monosyllables, but when Alice asked her what her favourite book was, she suddenly lit up and chattered about Harry Potter for half an hour. On the second meeting, she took Alices hand. On the third, she asked, Can you do my hair like Elsas?

She likes you, David said later. Shes never taken to anyone that fast.

Two years flew by. Alice moved in with David, learned to make pancakes every Saturday, memorised every episode of Paw Patrol,” and, above all, found the courage to love again truly, this time, without expecting anything to go wrong.

On New Years Eve, with Big Ben striking midnight, Alice made her wish. Her lips whispered: I want a baby.

Instantly she felt a pang of fear why risk reopening old wounds? but the wish was out there now, floating somewhere above the fireworks.

A month later, she was late.

No way, Alice thought, staring at that double line on the test. Faulty test.

Second test. Two lines.

Third. Fourth. Fifth!

David? She shuffled out of the bathroom on shaky legs. I um Im not sure how this happened

He realised before she could finish her sentence scooped her up, spun her around the room, kissed her all over.

I knew it! he kept saying. Told you you could do it!

The doctors at the clinic peered at her as if she were an exhibit. They dug out old files, pored over her records, ordered fresh tests.

Its impossible,” the doctor shook her head. With your diagnosis Ive never seen it in twenty years.

But I am pregnant?

Youre pregnant. Eight weeks. Everything looks good.

Alice burst out laughing.

About four months later, she ran into one of Nicholass mates at Sainsburys.

Did you hear about Nick? he smirked, glancing at Alices now obvious bump. Third wife by now. Still nothing. Not with the second, not with the third. Apparently his doctors reckon the problems actually him. Funny, isnt it? After all the things he said about you.

Alice didnt know what to say. She felt nothing at all not smug, not hurt. Just empty, where once there had been love.

Her son was born in August, on the sunniest morning you can imagine. Sophie and David waited nervously at the door.

Can I hold him? Sophie whispered, poking her head around the curtain.

Careful, Alice smiled, passing over the tiny bundle. Support his head.

Sophie stared at her little brother, then up at Alice.

Mum, will he always be that red? Mum?

Tears welled up in Alices eyes. David wrapped them both in his arms. Sophies gaze flicked in confusion between her parents and her baby brother, utterly puzzled by this rush of emotion.

But, right then, Alice understood something life-changing: sometimes, it just takes the right person beside you to believe in the impossible.

So, what do you reckon? Let me know your thoughts, give this story some love, yeah?