“The mother just left them like this,” the relative said. “I didn’t know what I could do.”
‘How old is he?’ I asked. ‘More than 4,’ the relative said quietly. ‘Months?’ I asked. ‘No, 4 years,’ he clarified. ‘This is his twin sister,’ he said pointing to Selena.
‘He looks at me and asks what’s wrong? And I respond, ‘I’ve been punched by your son and your daughter has done a massive poop in the bath’
“He hands me a paper towel, I mean dude, what the hell am I gonna do with a paper towel? Dry the poop? Soak the bath water?”
‘Don’t worry, you’re young and have plenty of time,’ is what a complete stranger said to me at work. He asked me how many kids I had. ‘None yet!’
“I’ve gotten the ‘Why did you rush into marriage?’ question, because I was married at 22 years old. But being young isn’t doing me any favors.”
‘I was young when I met my husband. Much younger than I should have been, given his older age. His steady job, quiet apartment, and vows of unconditional love lured me in.’
“I heard him say the words, ‘I’m going to get you out of this.’ I don’t know why I believed him, but I showed up to his office the very next week. My life has never been the same since.”
‘I woke up handcuffed to a hospital bed covered in my own vomit, dirt and mud caked in my ears and under my perfectly manicured acrylic nails.’
“I made a phone call that no mom ever wants to get. Within an hour, my mom was at my apartment and I will never forget the look of absolute terror on her face.”
‘He told me he didn’t feel attached to our baby, and he didn’t love me anymore. I secretly hoped I would die in childbirth. My life as I knew it, was completely dismantled.’
“I decided to clean out her bedroom. It was a virtual cesspool. As I was clearing away the reminders of her unwell state, I found her suicide note.”
‘I went to the ER expecting to find out I was anemic, get treatment and be good to go. Instead, I got that diagnosis. Our worlds were turned upside down.’
“We are almost completely out of milk for her. I am continuing my fight daily in hopes I’m able to watch all of my children grow up, and grow old myself with my husband.”
‘Years after meeting my now husband, I got a call from my father’s new wife. ‘Mommy, are you crying?’ I think she’s on to me.’
“I didn’t need him in my life. ‘We can make it on our own,’ she would say. And I did, for so many years. Then, in early July, he called.”
‘I had fallen forward on my belly. I was placed on a gurney, in full uniform, and wheeled through the ER. ‘We should talk delivery options.’ My response? ‘Um, excuse me?’
“I could feel it all. Then the anesthesiologist said, ‘Okay, we’re putting you to sleep now.’ And for the second time that day, I blacked out. My husband’s phone showed he got the call at 10:53.”
‘I gave my 10 year old a math test. He spent nearly an hour and used 4 sheets of scratch paper. He worked each problem with intense concentration.’
“And then, with a deep breath, he handed it to me to be graded. I quickly worked my way through the test and calculated his score. Immediately his eyes filled with tears.”
