Elena finds herself by herself with her mother in the hospital as she prepares to give birth to her and Michael’s first child. Michael was just missing from the map. Elena enters the house after being released in the hopes that Michael will be there to provide an explanation. But what she discovers is a note from Michael accusing Elena’s mother of being the reason he vanished. What happened to Michael and where is he?

I’ve always believed that the day I married Michael was the happiest day of my life. However, after learning that I was expecting, I thought the day I gave birth to our child would be the happiest of my life.

I had no idea that it would be the start of a terrible dream. As we welcomed our first child into the world, Michael had assured me that he would be there, holding my hand.

Everything from the music that would play in the delivery room to the little hat he would put on our baby’s head had been meticulously planned by both of us.

However, Michael was simply absent when it mattered most.

I recall the nurses telling me he was probably just delayed, and they smiled sympathetically. The sinking sensation in my stomach got worse by the minute.

I had been phoning him for hours on end, leaving frantic voicemails, but I got no answer. My fear increased with the intensity of the contractions. Was I really going to tackle this on my own? Why wouldn’t he have shown up here?

“Come on, Michael,” I gritted my teeth and commanded.

I was so happy when my daughter arrived, but my happiness was marred by the fact that my husband’s place next to me was empty. Michael was where? Why had he not appeared?

Throughout it all, my mother was by my side, holding my hand when Michael should have been, but I could also see the concern in her eyes. If she was aware of anything, she most definitely kept it from me.

My mother told Elena to just calm down. Look at Emily right now. And you; your body requires a little time.”

“I am aware,” I replied. “I’m just worried.”

I spent two days in the hospital before being allowed to go home. After my mother assisted me in getting Emily into the car, we left for home. My mother continued to drum her fingers against the steering wheel as we drove silently.

I made an effort to remain composed by convincing myself that Michael had to have had a valid reason for his absence. Perhaps something occurred at work. Perhaps he was in another hospital recovering from an accident.

Every mile we traveled, the scenarios became more bizarre.

However, nothing could have ready me for what we discovered upon returning home.

It was deathly quiet in the house. After seeing the expression on Michael’s face, I half expected him to be waiting inside with an acceptable excuse. I pushed open the door.

“Michael?” My voice resounded through the empty rooms as I let out a cry. “Michael, are you here?”

Not a response.

My mother told Elena to keep quiet. “Emily is sleeping.”

I brushed her off and ran upstairs. I needed to investigate the nursery; perhaps he was there, simply biding our time until we returned. We had been working for weeks to get our daughter’s nursery just the way I had imagined it to be during my pregnancy.

However, as soon as I opened the nursery door, my breath caught.

It was nearly empty in the room. The crib remained, but everything else was gone, including our daughter’s clothes, the stuffed animals, and the blankets we had carefully selected together. There was just one piece of paper left, neatly tucked inside the crib.

Elena, our infant, and I are in love. But I must depart permanently. Your mother did this; find out why. I’ve taken a few items from Emily to honor you both.

I gazed at the note, my brain straining to interpret its contents. What was Michael trying to say? Why was he forced to go? Furthermore, how was my mother involved in any of this?

“Mom!” Trying to descend the stairs as quickly as my postpartum body would allow, I yelled. She was sitting on the couch with Emily dozing in her arms when I stormed into the living room, gripping the note tightly.

“What is this?” I pushed the note toward her and demanded. “What actions did you take? My husband is where?

Her eyes were heavy as she gazed at me. I briefly caught a glimpse of something that I couldn’t quite identify. Feeling guilty? Feel remorse?

Muttering softly, “I didn’t want you to find out this way…”

“What? Discover what?” I almost gave her a scream. “What topic are you discussing? Tell me right away!”

As though bracing herself for what she was going to say, she inhaled deeply.

“Honey, I learned something new about Michael. It was simply too big for me to keep to myself. He had to be aware that I was aware.”

“Knew what, exactly? How come you’re speaking in riddles?” With my eyes closed, I asked, feeling suddenly tired.

“He’s been having an affair, darling,” she responded. “With a member of his staff. Think of the audacity.”

I felt the words strike me like a blow to the body and had to sit down right away.

“No, Mom,” I realized I was saying. That is completely untrue. Michael wouldn’t treat us that way. He cherishes me! And he has been giddy with anticipation for our child and expanding our family.”

“Darling, I wish it weren’t real. She said softly, “Do you think I enjoyed being right? “I caught him on the phone with someone. They discussed getting together at a motel. When I confronted him about it, he came clean. He has been seeing his employer, a far wealthier woman than we could have ever imagined. He has been presented with irresistible offers by her.”

“You refer to the… advancement? Not only was it laborious? And the car wasn’t just given to him because he made a significant impression on the business?” I let out a gasp.

It felt as though the room’s air had been forced out of my chest.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” With tears streaming down my face and a throbbing lower pelvis, I asked. “Why didn’t you allow me to speak with him? An opportunity to make it right?”

“Oh, honey,” my mom comfortingly remarked. “I allowed him to try. I gave him the ultimatum: either tell you everything or permanently leave. I was aware that revealing everything to you would indicate that he remained a decent man with redeeming traits. However, notice this? He made the decision to part from Emily and you.

I was hesitant to believe my mother for a brief moment. I wished there was more to this story and that Michael was believable. How else could my mother have known the truth and yet sat there holding my hand during my labor?

I couldn’t make sense of it.

Well, I could understand one thing. Michael had never really clicked with my mother the way I had hoped. She was cool with him and appreciated that he looked after me. Beyond that, though, there was nothing. Other than me, they were in no other relationships.

What if all my mom wanted was for him to go?

I unintentionally spoke all of these ideas aloud.

“Are you serious? Elena! Do you really believe that I would deliberately harm my daughter and ruin her relationship with her father? My mom started crying. “His decision to have an affair wounded you. I need you to believe me even though I can tell you everything you need to know.”

This cannot be taking place. My mother had made my husband leave without even giving me an opportunity to hear him out after he had betrayed me. He was the man I had trusted with my life.

“You shouldn’t have taken that choice away from me,” I replied. “You should have let me decide what to do!”

My mother held tight to my thigh.

“I’m really sorry, Elena,” she apologized. “I believed I was acting appropriately. My sweetie, this pregnancy took a toll on your body and mind. I didn’t want you to endure any more suffering.”

She didn’t seem very sincere, but I still felt bad for her. All that was on my mind was how everything I had taken for granted, everything I had held dear, had been taken away from me in an instant.

My mother had betrayed my trust, my husband had left, most likely with his mistress, and I was left to deal with a newborn and a broken heart.

Emily opened her eyes, and before I knew it, a cry twisted out of her tiny mouth.

My mother said, “She’s hungry.” “Maybe one day, when Emily goes through something where she needs her mother to protect her more than give her a choice, you’ll understand why I did what I did.”

I gave a nod.

I said, “I’m sure you’re right, Mom,” as I took my shirt off to give my daughter some food. “However, I need a little time alone. Right now, I have to get used to being a single parent.”

My mother cried, “But you’re not alone, Elena!” “I’m still here, even though Michael decided to part ways with you. I’m here to support and love you. as well as your young daughter.”

“I acknowledge that,” I uttered. “But this is the choice I’m making.”

My mother said, “I’ll make you some food and then I’ll leave.” “Let me do that, please. I’ll arrange your meals for a week. Alright?”

I didn’t want to look at her, but I said, “Fine,” appreciative of the help.

After we returned to the hospital, I gave Michael’s behavior more thought. He was, of course, having an affair. Numerous late nights were spent and dinners were shared with “colleagues over business.” It was now evident that Michael and his boss were growing closer during those private moments.

Whenever I tried to reach Michael, my calls would always end up in voicemail. Up until the day he accidentally answered. His voice sounded thick with sleep, so I knew he was not going to answer the phone.

“Michael?” I inquired.

“Elena?” he exclaimed.

I enquired, “Is it true?”

Indeed. Everything,” he uttered. “I will not be returning. Though I was thrilled to begin our life together with you and our child, I’ve come to love Gretchen and our shared life. I have to take a chance on this. I’ll at the very least put the house under your sole name. It will be done soon by Gretchen’s attorneys.

My ears were unbelievable to me.

Neither Michael nor I got in touch with each other again. Just as swiftly as he had entered my life, he vanished from it. At least my daughter was spared from meeting him and all of that.

She was out of Michael’s reach.

How would you have responded in that situation?