In one week, lot of things could happen. Bad things, like having courbatures for days after a wild dance class ; or saying goodbye to your once best friend, knowing the break could never be totally repaired ; or even cancelling a date to look after your sick baby. But also good things, like randomly getting a free dance class ; or making a crazy and straightforward new friend ; or even getting a job offer.

KPL Transport sent an email to announce I got the position. I was so certain it was dead for me after my sudden feminist episode. But no, I was in. And I was expected to start by the beginning of the following month, giving me less than two weeks to get ready.

I pressed the doorbell of a small villa hidden somewhere in a residential neighborhood. A few minutes later, a woman in her sixties opened the door. Her salt and pepper hair coming out of a headscarf. She was almost as tall as me, but she had way more curves than I did. Behind her small glasses, her eyelids slightly folded as she looked at me.

"Good morning, mum!" I gave her a smile, but she didn't return it. Her focus went directly on Clara, who happily left my arms for hers.

One of the first arrangements I had to do before starting work was Clara's care. And as Samuel would also go to work, none of us would be there. We both agreed on leaving her under my mother's care.

"How's my son in law?" She asked as we sat in the living room.

I rolled my eyes, under the amused look of my father, hidden behind one of his books. We didn't see each other for weeks, and all she cared about was her son in law? She'd always been like that, never directly asking how I was, or what was up in my life. But I knew deep down that she cared about me more than she showed it.

"Fine. He's fine."

"You're taking good care of him, right?" She looked at me with suspicious eyes. "Last time I saw him, he seemed to have lost weight. You should cook good and nourishing food for him. Don't feed him over pasta and rice and your vegetables salad thing, these are empty meals."

"He's old enough to take care of himself," I said in a low voice.

"Did you two fight?" Mum raised an eyebrow. She'd always been able to read through me. Or was it me who was not good at hiding my thoughts?

"No-no! We didn't."

"You did! Why? What happened?"

"Nothing." I didn't want my parents to find out what happened. That was pointless.

"Then stop with that mourning face! One could think you're getting a divorce."

I blinked twice and quickly looked away. Although divorce was not yet on the table, I couldn't help but feel targeted. And it didn't escape mum's sharp eyes.

"You're not getting a divorce, huh?"

Even though he was still holding onto his book, my father was now clearly listening to us. And it made me uncomfortable. I really didn't want my parents to find out what happened.

"No, we're not. Anyway mum, I would like you to..."

"Why did you consider a divorce?" mum cut me off. "What happened that is so serious? Last time you seemed all head over heels for him, and now... Don't tell me you're seeing someone else?"

"What!?" I was shocked. How could she say such a thing? And it hurt even more since he was the one seeing someone else.

"If not, why would you want to get a divorce? Don't you love him anymore?"

"Of course I..." But I couldn't complete my sentence. Why couldn't I bring myself to say it? It was such a casual thing! I loved my husband. I loved Samuel. Right?

"Then what? Did he lose his manhood?" she whispered, even though everyone in the room could hear. I rolled my eyes.

"Oh his manhood is way too fine I may say!" I sounded more bitter than I wanted to. I was really trying my best not to show anything, but my mother was an expert at pushing me to the edge of my patience.

"Oh! Is he seeing another woman?"

I looked at her and frowned. Why did she sound like it was normal? She considered with disdain the fact that I could see someone else, but all of a sudden, seeing someone else seemed fine?

"So he has another woman!" her side eye look told me she caught me. I fell in her trick, and my lack of reaction was louder than an out loud affirmation. "He has an affair, so what? This is not something you get a divorce for! What would people think of you? He's a man, that can happen, it's nothing! As long as he's discreet and still takes care of  the kid and you, it's fine. And if he cheated, you should reflect about what you lacked and improve to keep him by your side. I don't have to remind you how good of a catch he is, right?"

My eyes and mouth turned round as she spoke. Was she serious? She found out Samuel cheated on me, and she tried to defend him? I looked at my dad, and the furrow on his face told me he was as shocked as I was.

I've always been a little afraid of my mother. She's never been the loving type, rather a rude mother, openly telling you she's disappointed, but silently asserting her pride. All my life I've tried hard to please her. I've always been a good girl, had good marks, never did drugs, alcohol or parties... But it never seemed enough to satisfy her. Why couldn't I be among the top ten of the exam centre during the highschool diploma exam? Obtaining an honourable mention was not enough. And all the money spent for my college degrees to end up as a housewife? At least I had a good husband.

All the time I kept in mind that she loved me, and comforted myself thinking it was her way of caring for me, her one and only child. But today I couldn't bring myself to think so. Maybe she kept downgrading me because I acted like a pushover. Maybe if I spoke my mind out for once, she would finally consider my feelings?

I abruptly stood up and unconsciously clenched my fists. I looked at my father, and he gave me a cheering smile. Every time mum made me feel down, dad was there to cheer me up, silently hidden behind his readings. And today, that smile gave me enough strength to stand up for myself.

"No, mum. Samuel cheated on me, it's not nothing. That only fact gives me the right to get a divorce if I feel like it. Shouldn't you care about my happiness before what others may think? And what? I should reflect? He cheated, yet I should reflect? I'm your child, mum, not him. So how come you seem to care more about him? Shouldn't you be angry and throw a fit at the man who cheated on your daughter? But what? He's a good catch? Why don't you marry him then?"

"So what? You're getting a divorce? And how will you provide for your living expenses? Let me remind you that you're now unemployed. A housewife cannot get a divorce just because she wants to! And what about Clara? Do you want her to grow up in a scattered family?"

"Well, the main reason I came to see you today was to tell you I got a job, and I would need you to take care of Clara when Samuel and I are at work. So no, mum, I'm not a housewife anymore. And whether I get a divorce or not will depend on my feelings, not your apprehension or what people might think. Clara is a strong girl, and I'm sure she wouldn't want me to stay in a relationship that makes me unhappy. Yes, it might affect her, but I'm sure it would be better than living in an unhappy family. But again, you cannot understand, you have an awesome husband, what can you know about cheaters and divorce?"

I grabbed my bag, took Clara off her arms and left the house without giving her the chance to say something else. I didn't want her to turn to dust my efforts by saying something hurtful.

On my way home, I replayed the discussion over and over. And I couldn't help but wonder why today the situation seemed different from before.

When I first learnt about the treason, I sure was heartbroken, but I also tried to excuse Samuel. He cheated, but there was a situation. It was not entirely his fault. We would overcome it. Because I loved him, and he loved me. Time would heal wounds.

Today however, all I could think of was the fact that he cheated on me. He betrayed me. If he loved me that much, why would he betray me that way? Why would he put me through this hell? Was it even possible to overcome it? Time sure healed wounds, but some wounds were meant to leave awful scars.

He cheated because he was having a hard time. But women who go through postpartum are likely to experience it again. Did that mean the story could repeat itself if we were to have another child?

Because of his job, he would have to go back to Toronto in the future. I would never be at ease whenever he'd be there, but I could not ask him not to go.

But most importantly, today for the first time, I hesitated when I had to say I loved him. Why did I love him in the first place? Because he was like a saint. He was handsome, kind, intelligent, successful, loving and caring, a good husband and father... He was near to perfection.

What happened left a crack on the perfect image I had of him. And a broken mirror could not be repaired, the reflection would always be distorted. Would I be able to close the eyes on that and keep loving him? Because I loved him, I was willing to try and overcome the crisis. If that love ever disappeared...

The whole day passed in a daze. I had my head in the clouds, I didn't even notice when it got that late. The doorbell rang, bringing me back on earth. It was almost 7:00 p.m. and I was not expecting anyone.

I stood up and went to open the door with a nonchalant step. The first thing I saw was a red rose, held by a beautiful hand wearing a ring that matched mine. I looked up, and saw Samuel giving me his brightest smile. A few weeks ago, that smile would have melted me down. Today, I felt... nothing.

We're almost at the end... Last chapters will come out next week.

Thank you for sticking with Missa until the end!
🤎🤎🤎