Trouble Marriage
Episode 3
Frank’s life took a dark turn after Emily revealed her true self. The loving, caring wife he had once known was gone, replaced by someone cold and unrecognizable.
At first, Frank tried to hold onto some semblance of normalcy, hoping that Emily’s behavior was just a phase—a reaction to the overwhelming responsibility of motherhood. But it quickly became clear that this was not the case. Emily had embraced her new persona fully, and there was no going back.
She began going out every evening, leaving the house dressed up and without a word to Frank. Sometimes, she wouldn’t return until the next morning, stumbling in drunk, her makeup smudged and her clothes scattered. The smell of alcohol clung to her, a sharp reminder of the life she was living beyond the walls of their home.
“Emily, where have you been?” Frank asked one morning as she staggered through the door, the baby crying in the background. His voice was a mix of frustration and exhaustion.
Emily rolled her eyes, slurring her words. “Out. What’s it to you, Frank? You’re not my keeper.”
“You’re a mother now,” Frank said, trying to keep his voice steady. “You have responsibilities. Our son needs you.”
She let out a bitter laugh, waving a hand dismissively. “Oh, please. You’ve got it covered, don’t you? You’re doing such a great job playing the perfect little daddy.”
Frank’s heart sank as she pushed past him, not even sparing a glance at the crying baby. She didn’t care—not about him, not about their child, not about the family they had once dreamed of building together. He realized then that he was truly on his own.
The days blurred into weeks as Frank struggled to juggle his studies, the demands of law school, and the full-time care of his newborn son. Emily had completely checked out of their lives. She never breastfed the baby, never held him, never even acknowledged him. The once cheerful home was now filled with the sounds of a crying infant and the heavy silence of a broken marriage.
Frank tried to keep up with his classes, but the lack of sleep and the constant worry took its toll. He found it harder and harder to concentrate on his studies, his grades slipping as he fell behind. His professors noticed the change, but he couldn’t bring himself to explain the truth—how his wife had abandoned her duties as a mother, leaving him to bear the weight of it all.
One night, after finally getting the baby to sleep, Frank sat down at the kitchen table, his head in his hands. The apartment was completely quiet, the kind of silence that felt more oppressive than peaceful. He hadn’t seen Emily all day, and he knew she wouldn’t be back until the early hours of the morning, if at all.
“Why, Emily?” Frank whispered to the empty room, his voice trembling with emotion. “Why did you do this to us? To him?”
There was no answer, just the steady hum of the refrigerator and the occasional creak of the floorboards. Frank felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes, but he forced them back. He couldn’t afford to break down—not when there was so much at stake. His son needed him, and he had to stay strong for him.
The next morning, Frank found himself standing in front of his bathroom mirror, looking at the tired, haggard reflection staring back at him. He barely recognized the man he had become—dark circles under his eyes, a permanent frown etched into his face. The weight of his responsibilities was crushing, and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep going.
As the days turned into weeks, Frank found himself grappling with the crushing reality of his situation. Emily’s behavior showed no signs of changing.
Frank’s patience was wearing thin. Each day felt like a battle, not just with the demands of fatherhood and his studies, but with Emily’s complete disregard for their family. Her nights out had become routine, and her indifference to their child was maddening. Frank could no longer stay silent. He had reached his limit.
One evening, after another night of Emily stumbling home drunk and ignoring their son, Frank couldn’t hold back his anger any longer. The baby was crying in the next room, and Frank’s frustration boiled over.
“Emily, this has to stop!” Frank shouted, his voice trembling with a mix of rage and desperation. “You can’t keep doing this! Our son needs you! I need you!”
Emily looked at him with bleary, half-closed eyes, barely registering his words. She let out a long, exaggerated hiss, her disdain clear. “Oh, please, Frank. Spare me the lecture. I don’t need this right now.”
“You don’t need this?” Frank repeated, incredulous. “What about him? He needs his mother, Emily! You’ve abandoned us both, and I’m sick of it!”
Emily rolled her eyes and pushed past him, her movements sluggish and uncoordinated. “Just leave me alone, Frank. I’m done listening to your whining.”
Frank watched her walk away, his heart sinking further. Every time he tried to reach out to her, she shut him down, leaving him more isolated and overwhelmed. He couldn’t understand how she could be so callous, so detached from the life they had created together.
The next morning, he had a crucial lecture to attend. It was one of the few classes he hadn’t already missed due to the demands of taking care of the baby. Frank knew he couldn’t skip it, but he was torn about leaving the baby alone with Emily.
“Emily, I have to go to class today,” Frank said as he prepared to leave, trying to keep his voice calm despite the tension between them. “Can you please just look after him for a few hours? I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Emily was lying on the couch, barely paying attention. She waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”
Frank hesitated, his heart heavy with doubt. But he had no other option. He kissed his son goodbye, whispering a promise to be back soon, and left for school, hoping against hope that Emily would manage for just a few hours.
The lecture was long, but Frank’s mind wasn’t on the material. He kept checking the time, his anxiety growing with each passing minute. Finally, as soon as the class ended, he rushed out, desperate to get back home.
When Frank arrived at the apartment, he knew something was wrong. He could hear the baby crying from outside the door, the sound piercing and desperate. His stomach dropped as he fumbled with the keys, fear clawing at him. He threw the door open and ran inside, the cries growing louder.
In the living room, Frank’s worst fears were confirmed. Emily was sprawled on the floor, completely unconscious, an empty bottle beside her as he heard the baby desperate continuous cry.
To Be Continued
Jerry Smith
