“His voice trembled. ‘I never thought I’d see you again!’ My dad instantly wrapped him up in a long, warm embrace. They hadn’t seen each other in decades. We kept it a secret for two weeks.”
‘Tex? Somebody’s looking for Tex!’ My dad immediately raced to the door. Nobody ever called him that. Except for ONE person.’ Military dad surprised with war buddy after 58 years
‘Are you married? Children?’ Their faces fall. They question what’s wrong with me. Come up with creative ideas to fix my situation. Not ONE person offers a congratulations.’ 33-year-old woman explains why it’s okay to be single and childless
“I had 2 weeks to shove my belongings into trash bags and move out. While my breakup was still fresh, I met friends for dinner. They raised their glasses. ‘Here’s to being 30 and married!’ I noticed whispering, glances my way. They finished with a hurried cheers. ‘Lisa! Do you have any funny dating stories?!’ I drove home in tears, humiliated.”
‘My husband left to work on a ‘project.’ Receipts for bars, motels showed up on MY credit card. I demanded he show me his texts. ‘You’re not going to like it.’: Woman gets huge wake-up call after husband leaves for ‘work’
“Shaking and my heart pounding, I scrolled through comments. ‘I miss you.’ ‘What are you wearing?’ ‘When do I get to see you again?’ I don’t know how it started. I woke up with purple bruises on my throat in the outline of my husband’s fingers. I never questioned my decision.”
‘I heard a scream. The engine shut off. ‘Mommy, I’m scared!’ Her eyes were rolling to the back of her head. Time stops. I drop to my knees. ‘Lani, my baby girl! Please wake up!’
“She goes unconscious. My mother is holding her scalp to her head, screaming for a knife, towel, and scissors to cut her loose. My aunt is calling 911. Everyone is coming in and out of the room trying to figure out a plan. The world stops. I’m terrified to turn around.”
‘What the heck is going on? Have we been robbed?!’ I walk through an ocean of toys and books. My husband and baby are hidden among thrown sofa cushions. Sheer panic sets in.’
“‘She’s fallen asleep. Should I carry her to bed?’ Lunchtime. My phone pings again. ‘She’s woken up. What should I give her for lunch?’ I tell him she likes the pre-made pouches of baby food in the cupboard. Another text. ‘I can’t find the pouches.’ I can’t wait for Daddy to realize that staying at home isn’t all about box sets and playtime.”
‘I caught myself telling my 2-year-old son today, ‘You’re just like your daddy.’ I wanted him to act and look like me. I hoped he’d possess some of my qualities.’
“It stopped me in my tracks after it rolled off my tongue. All of us want to see a little bit of ourselves in our children. But the older I get, the more I see his daddy in him. I’m raising a daddy’s boy.”
‘I wanted to be sterilized. ‘You need your husband’s permission,’ I was told. I was stunned. As an adult woman, why did I need my husband’s blessing to make decisions about MY body?’
“I begged for years, but was quickly refused. I didn’t feel maternal, but everyone told me I’d change my mind about not wanting kids. I felt constant worry if my period was even a little bit late. I knew I had to take a stand before I lost my health insurance.”
‘I stood in line, filling the medication that would remove the life within me. I looked at my fiancé. ‘I’m going home and grabbing my camera.’ If I didn’t do this, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.’
“I headed to the hospital. I remember being in the room, feeling blood dripping from my body. I watched my friend’s body bleed simultaneously, signs of life, as she waited to bring her baby into the world. A life leaving and a life beginning all in the same room at the same moment. I was transfixed.”
‘I pulled into his school parking lot. ‘Mama, aren’t you FORGETTING something?’ There was terror in his voice. That’s when I noticed it. I’ve never face-palmed so hard in my life.’
“When I went to unstrap him and pick him up, he had a concerned look on his face. He crossed his arms and stared back at me. Call? Check. Clothes? Check. Teeth? Check. ‘What? What is it?,’ I asked. It was too late now. There was no turning back.”
‘My mother-in-law wore a wedding dress to MY wedding. I didn’t think to ask what she planned to wear. It ended without anyone being shoved into the champagne fountain.’
“The morning of the wedding, all the women in the bridal party crammed into a tiny room in the church. Then, she walks in. I see it. My sister kept looking at me, then my mother-in-law, then the cop the venue made us hire. She pulled me aside, hoping I didn’t go for his taser.”
