The night before her daughter’s A-levels, Mary stood in front of the wardrobe, desperately sifting through her dressesnothing seemed right. Suddenly, her daughter burst into the room.
“Mum, please dont be angry, but I dont want you at my exam tomorrow,” she said firmly, her tone final. Mary sat heavily on the bed, unable to make sense of it. Her husband had grown cold too, constantly criticising her appearance, telling her she looked old and worn. Their daughter was close to him; he was the one who always went to parents’ evenings. That evening, Mary resolved to talk to him, to tell him about their daughter’s behaviour.
She and Alex had fallen in love when they were very young and married quickly.
There was no money for a grand wedding. Marys mother had only a modest pension, and Alex was one of many children from a farming family. Mary set aside her own ambitions for the good of their new family. She left university and started working, so Alex could focus on his studies. Later, when Mary spoke of returning to school, her husband always dismissed it.
“Lets just wait one more year,” Alex would insist. “I need to find proper work first, then well think about you.” In the end, Mary put her dreams aside. Life swept her up in the daily chaos of mortgages, work, chores, and raising their daughter. This was how they lived. Now, Alex ran a thriving business of his own. That evening, Mary waited for him, her heart full as she finally brought it up.
“Whats happening to us? Why are you and our daughter ashamed of me?” she asked softly, her voice trembling with unshed tears.
“Mary, I think everything is quite clear,” Alex replied, cold and detached. “That spark from our university days has long since gone. Weve grown apart. Frankly, Im embarrassed by you. We need to separate.”
Their daughter left with her father that night. She ignored Marys calls and insisted her mother leave her alone. Soon after, Alex remarrieda younger woman this time. Their daughter focused entirely on herself, changing her hair and her whole look, radiating confidence. The years passed by.
Marys daughter eventually became a mother herself. Yet her own husband walked out on her, and she couldnt go to her father. Finally, she remembered her mum.
Mary couldnt turn her away. Her daughter apologised for a long time, and eventually, Mary forgave her. But when Alex appeared once more, hoping for another chance, Mary didnt even hesitateshe knew that door was forever closed.
