When I got sick, I finally saw a side to my husband that I didn’t like. He abandoned me and our newborn baby because he didn’t want to step up and be a good father and husband, so I played along. But I came out on top!
I’m 30, married to a man named Drew who’s 33, and we have a six-month-old baby girl named Sadie. She’s the light of my life—a smile like sunshine, chubby cheeks, and the sweetest little giggle. But apparently, all of that was just a minor inconvenience to my husband when I got sick.
A sickly woman | Source: Midjourney
Let me tell you what happened. Strap in, because it still feels like a fever dream, and not just because I had a fever when it all started. This all occurred about a month ago. I’d caught some brutal virus. Not COVID-19, not RSV, but something gnarly.
I mean, this thing came with body aches, chills, and a cough that made my ribs feel like they were being punched from the inside! The worst part? Sadie had just gotten over a cold herself, so I was already drained.
A cute baby | Source: Midjourney
At this point, I was sleep-deprived, sick, and trying to take care of a baby who was still clingy from her own recovery. Strangely, Drew had been acting weird for weeks, even before I got sick. He was distant.
Always on his phone, chuckling at things he wouldn’t share. When I’d ask what was so funny, he’d just shrug and say, “It’s work stuff.” His fuse was short, too. He snapped over stupid things—the dishes in the sink and my forgetting to defrost the chicken.
An upset man | Source: Midjourney
My husband also kept commenting on how tired I looked. “You always seem exhausted,” he said one night while I rocked Sadie in my arms and tried to suppress a cough.
“Well, yeah, duh. I’m raising a human,” I replied with a tinge of annoyance.
I thought maybe, just maybe, this illness would snap him out of it. I hoped he’d see me struggling and finally step up. Pick up the slack. Be the man I married.
Boy, was I wrong!
A sickly woman struggling with a baby | Source: Midjourney
The night my fever hit 102.4, I could barely sit up! My hair was stuck to my forehead, my skin burned, and my whole body ached like I’d been hit by a truck! I looked at him and, with all the strength I could muster, I whispered, “Can you please take Sadie? I just need to lie down for 20 minutes.”
He didn’t even blink. “I can’t. Your cough is keeping me up. I NEED SLEEP. I think I’m gonna stay at my mom’s for a few nights.”
I actually laughed—not because it was funny, but because it was so absurd I thought he had to be joking!
He wasn’t.
A sickly woman laughing while holding her baby | Source: Midjourney
He actually got up, packed a duffel bag, kissed Sadie on the head—not me—and walked out. All the while, I kept asking him, “Are you serious right now? You’re really leaving?” And he just nodded his head and said nothing.
He didn’t even bother asking how Sadie would be taken care of while I could barely stand! After he left, I sat on the couch holding her while she cried from being overtired and hungry. I stared at the door. My phone buzzed a few minutes later after I texted him.
A woman holding a baby and texting | Source: Midjourney
“You’re seriously leaving me here sick and alone with the baby?” I had texted, still in disbelief.
“You’re the mom. You know how to handle this stuff better than me. I’d just get in the way. Plus, I’m exhausted and your cough is unbearable.”
I read that text five times and stared at it in shock! My hands were shaking, whether from the fever or the rage, I’ll never know! I couldn’t believe that this man, who was supposed to be my life partner, thought my cough was too much of a hindrance than staying and helping with OUR child while I was clearly sick!?
FINE!
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
I somehow made it through the weekend. I barely ate. I cried in the shower when Sadie finally napped. I kept her alive on nothing but Tylenol, willpower, and instinct. And during that time, Drew didn’t check in, not once!
I couldn’t rely on family because they were hours away, and although my friends popped in and called now and then, they were too busy, out of town, or had some other reason. The whole time I was burning up in bed, one idea kept playing in my mind: I need to show this man what it feels like to be completely abandoned.
So I did.
A serious and determined woman | Source: Midjourney
I started devising my plan. I figured if he thought being sick and then abandoned wasn’t a big deal, I was going to give him an idea of what it felt like. By the time I felt somewhat human again, with no fever, still coughing but functional, I knew exactly what I was going to do.
So a week later, I texted him.
“Hey babe. I’m feeling much better now. You can come home.”
He didn’t hesitate. “Thank God! I’ve barely slept here. Mom’s dog snores and she keeps asking me to help with yard work.”
Yard work. Poor baby. Imagine that.
A happy man texting | Source: Midjourney
Ahead of his return, I cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom, prepped Sadie’s bottles and food, and even made Drew’s favorite dinner, spaghetti carbonara with garlic bread from scratch. I showered, put on makeup for the first time in two weeks, and wore jeans that didn’t scream “I’ve been up every two hours with a baby.”
When he walked in, he looked around like everything was back to normal. He was smiling, looking relaxed, ate like a king, burped, and then collapsed onto the couch with his phone! He barely said a word to me about the week I had endured!
A happy man using his phone | Source: Midjourney
A few minutes into his relaxation time, I finally struck!
“Hey,” I said sweetly, “Can you hold Sadie for a sec? I need to grab something upstairs.”
“Sure,” he muttered after sighing and rolling his eyes. He kept scrolling TikTok with one hand and held her with the other.
I came down five minutes later with my small suitcase and my car keys. Sadie was smiling and babbling in his lap.
Noticing the movement, he blinked. “What’s that?”
“I booked a weekend spa retreat,” I said, calm as can be. “Massage, facial, room service. I just need some rest.”
He sat up, confused. “Wait, you’re going now?!”
A shocked man holding a baby | Source: Midjourney
“Yep. Just two nights. I left instructions. Bottles are labeled and her toys are there. Diapers and wipes are stocked. Emergency numbers are on the fridge. I got lots of groceries. Everything’s good. Unlike you, I actually planned ahead for you. Besides, you’re the dad. You know how to handle this stuff.”
“Claire, I don’t know what to—” he started.
I raised a hand. “No, no. Your words last week, remember? ‘You’re the mom. You know how to handle this stuff better than me.’ Now it’s your turn.”
A woman leaving with luggage | Source: Midjourney
He seemed gobsmacked for a few seconds before he said, “Wait—Claire, c’mon. You can’t just—”
“I can. I am. You abandoned me when I needed you most. So now you’ll see what it’s like to carry everything alone. Don’t call unless it’s a real emergency. And no pawning her off on your mom. You’re the dad. Figure it out.”
He just stared at me with his eyes wide. I don’t think he was processing what was happening.
A shocked man | Source: Midjourney
“You wanted sleep? Good luck getting any. Bye-bye, dear. I’ll be back Sunday night!”
And then I walked out. I didn’t slam the door. I didn’t cry in the car. I drove 45 minutes to a beautiful, tranquil, and quiet little inn with a spa and free chocolate chip cookies in the lobby.
That day, I vowed not to answer any calls or texts. I figured if there was a real issue, Drew could get in touch with his mother or take Sadie to the hospital. I even ignored the first wave of panicked voicemails and FaceTime attempts.
A woman relaxing at a spa | Source: Midjourney
Instead, I had a 90-minute massage, took naps, read by the fireplace, got a pedicure, and watched trashy reality shows in a fluffy robe. Bliss!
Saturday? Slept in until 9 a.m., got a facial, and ate a warm croissant while reading a book by the fire.
He did call twice. Left two voicemails. One was mild panic. The other was an attempt to guilt-trip me.
“Claire, Sadie won’t nap. I don’t know how you do this. She spit up on me twice. Please call back.”
I didn’t.
A woman using her phone | Source: Midjourney
But I did FaceTime that evening because, despite everything, I missed my daughter, and unlike him, I still really loved him.
When the screen lit up, Drew looked like he’d aged 10 years. Sadie was in his arms, hair a mess, chewing on his hoodie string. Her diaper looked… full.
“Hey, Sadie-bug,” I said, my voice softening. “Mommy misses you.”
She smiled. Reached for the screen. Drew looked like he wanted to melt.
“Claire,” he said, his voice cracking. “I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry. I didn’t realize how hard this is!”
No kidding!
I nodded. “I know.”
A woman on her phone | Source: Midjourney
Sunday evening, I came home to a war zone! Toys everywhere. Dirty bottles in the sink. Drew was still in the same shirt from the day before, his eyes sunken, hair sticking up like a cartoon scientist!
Sadie squealed and giggled when she saw me! I scooped her up and kissed her all over! She smelled like baby wipes and panic, but was fine, maybe a little clingy.
A happy woman carrying her child | Source: Midjourney
Drew just looked at me like he was seeing a goddess with infinite powers—exhausted and ashamed.
“I get it now,” he whispered. “I really do.”
“Do you?” I asked.
He nodded. “I messed up.”
I pulled out a folded paper from my purse and placed it on the table. Don’t get excited, it wasn’t divorce papers, at least, not yet. He looked down like a deer caught in headlights, probably thinking the papers were the end of our marriage.
A shocked man looking at a list | Source: Midjourney
But it was a list. A schedule. Morning duties, nighttime feedings, grocery runs, laundry, baths. His name was next to half of them.
“You don’t get to tap out anymore,” I told him. “I need a partner. Not a third child.”
He nodded, slowly. “Okay. I’m in.”
To his credit, he has been trying. He wakes up when Sadie cries at night. He makes her bottles and finally managed to change her diaper without gagging! He even learned to swaddle her without watching a tutorial!
A happy man holding his swaddled child | Source: Midjourney
But I’m not stupid. I’m not rushing to forgive him. I’m still watching. Still deciding.
But at least now, he knows: love doesn’t mean allowing someone to walk all over you, and I’m not the type of woman you leave behind when things get tough.
I’m the woman who makes sure you never, ever forget it.
A determined woman | Source: Midjourney
In the following story, a woman was thrilled when her boyfriend proposed but, his mother quickly shut down any idea of them actually getting married. To cut a long story short, the jilted woman didn’t take the slight lying down and got revenge in the best way possible!
I Chose an Old Photo Album Instead of $10,000 My Grandpa Left as His Inheritance — Its Secret Changed My Life
When my parents and grandmother died in a car accident, Grandpa stepped in to raise us, binding our shattered family with love and wisdom. Little did I know, years later, his will would present a choice that would test our bonds and reveal a hidden secret, changing everything.
The day my parents and grandmother died in a car accident was the worst day of my life. Jacob, Megan, Luke, Beth, and I were left in the care of Grandpa. He stepped up without hesitation, his quiet strength holding us together.
“I won’t let you kids go through this alone,” he said, hugging us all. “We’re family, and we’ll get through this.”
An old man facing the camera | Source: Pexels
Grandpa became everything to us. He was our rock, our guide. But it was in the library that he and I truly bonded.
The others were busy with their lives: Jacob with his business schemes, Megan with her career, Luke with his carefree lifestyle, and Beth following Megan like a shadow.
“Grandpa, why do you love these old books so much?” I asked one evening as we restored a tattered volume.
A private library | Source: Pexels
“Books are like people, Lindsey,” he replied, his eyes twinkling. “They carry stories and wisdom. They deserve care and respect.”
We spent hours in that library, losing ourselves in stories and memories. The smell of old paper and ink became a part of me, just like Grandpa’s gentle wisdom.
Years passed, and our family dynamics shifted. Jacob became more materialistic, always talking about investments and profits. Megan climbed the corporate ladder, hardly looking back. Luke drifted through life, and Beth clung to Megan’s coat-tails. But Grandpa and I remained close, our bond growing stronger.
An old man paging through a book | Source: Pexels
One evening, as we finished a particularly old book, Grandpa sighed. “You’re different from your siblings, Lindsey. You value what’s truly important.”
His words stayed with me, a quiet affirmation of our shared values. While the others pursued wealth and status, I found contentment in simpler things, especially the time with Grandpa.
Then, one fateful night, everything changed. Grandpa’s health declined rapidly, and we knew the end was near. My siblings came over, but their visits were perfunctory, more out of duty than love.
A sick-looking man sits on a bed | Source: Pexels
“Just make sure the will is in order,” Jacob muttered to Megan, not realizing I could hear.
I spent those final days by Grandpa’s side, holding his hand, whispering stories, and reading to him from our favorite books. His passing was peaceful, but the void he left felt insurmountable.
At the reading of the will, we were all tense. Grandpa had left each of us a choice: $10,000 or a photo album filled with family memories. My siblings scoffed at the album.
Mourners at a funeral service | Source: Pexels
“Lindsey, you’re not seriously considering that, are you?” Jacob sneered. “It’s just sentimental junk.”
But I knew better. I chose the album, feeling a deep connection to Grandpa’s legacy. My siblings chose the money, their eyes gleaming with greed.
“You always were the sentimental one,” Megan said, rolling her eyes.
I ignored their taunts, holding the album close. It felt like a piece of Grandpa, something real and lasting. Little did I know, it held more than memories; it held a secret that would change everything.
A woman leafing through a photo album | Source: Pexels
“You’re crazy, Lindsey,” Luke said. “Ten grand could set you up for a while.”
“It’s not about the money,” I replied, opening the album. “It’s about what it represents.”
The siblings laughed, shaking their heads. But as I turned the pages, I felt a strange comfort. The photos brought back floods of memories, moments of joy, love, and Grandpa’s wisdom. Then, tucked behind a photo of Grandpa and me in the library, I found a letter and a check for $100,000.
A hand-written letter | Source: Pexels
“Oh my word,” I whispered, my hands trembling. The letter, written in Grandpa’s neat script, read:
My Dearest Lindsey,
If you are reading this, it means you chose the photo album, just as I knew you would. This album holds the memories of our precious time together, the moments we shared that were more valuable to me than anything else in this world.
You have always been the light in my life, especially in my final days when you cared for me with such love and devotion. Your kindness and strength have been a source of immense pride for me. I wanted to give you something that would remind you of the bond we shared, something that would carry forward our legacy.
A woman reading a letter | Source: Pexels
Enclosed with this letter is a check for $100,000. This is my final gift to you, to help you continue your journey and pursue your dreams. Use it wisely, and remember that I will always be with you in spirit, guiding you and cheering you on.
Thank you for being my rock, for understanding the true value of our memories, and for choosing love over material wealth. You are, and always will be, my precious granddaughter.
With all my love,
Grandfather
A woman holds a letter to her chest | Source: Pexels
Tears streamed down my face. He had known. He had always known. I felt a surge of love and gratitude, mixed with a sense of vindication. My siblings, who had mocked me, were oblivious to this final gift of Grandpa’s love.
“What are you crying about?” Beth asked, peering over my shoulder.
I quickly folded the letter and slipped it into my pocket. “Nothing. Just memories.”
A group meeting | Source: Pexels
As the days passed, I pondered what to do with the money. Grandpa had always taught us the value of giving back. Inspired, I decided to start a foundation in his name, dedicated to helping educate children who had lost their parents, just like we had.
When I told my siblings about my plan, they were shocked.
“Why would you do that?” Jacob asked, incredulous. “You could invest it, make more money.”
A woman and two men consult across a desk | Source: Pexels
“Because it’s what Grandpa would have wanted,” I replied firmly. “It’s about honoring his legacy.”
They didn’t understand, but it didn’t matter. I knew in my heart that this was the right thing to do. As I worked on setting up the foundation, I felt Grandpa’s presence guiding me, his love and wisdom still with me.
Meanwhile, my siblings faced their own struggles. Jacob’s investments went sour, Megan’s career hit a snag, Luke’s carefree lifestyle caught up with him, and Beth, without Megan to follow, felt lost. Their pursuit of material wealth had led them to empty successes.
A man holds his head despondently | Source: Pexels
In a twist of fate, they came to me for help. Their pride had been humbled, and they saw the value in what I was doing. I agreed to help, but with a condition: they had to contribute to the foundation.
“This is about more than just money,” I said. “It’s about family, about giving back. It’s what Grandpa wanted.”
Reluctantly, they agreed. Through working together, they began to see the true value of love, compassion, and family.
The foundation flourished, helping countless children and bringing new meaning to my life. Every time I saw a child’s face light up with hope, I felt Grandpa’s presence.
A child reading a book | Source: Pexels
As the months passed, our family began to heal. We worked together, not just for the foundation but to rebuild our fractured relationships. The siblings who once mocked my choices now respected them, seeing the wisdom in Grandpa’s teachings.
One sunny afternoon, I visited Grandpa’s grave. The cemetery was quiet, the air filled with the scent of blooming flowers. I knelt by his tombstone, tracing the letters of his name.
“Hi, Grandpa,” I whispered. “I hope you’re proud of us. We’re trying our best to live by your values.”
A group of children bonding in an exercise | Source: Pexels
I felt a gentle breeze, almost as if he were responding. I smiled, knowing that his spirit would always be with me, guiding me.
As I stood up, I looked around the cemetery, feeling a sense of peace and fulfillment. The foundation was thriving, my siblings were learning the true value of love and family, and I had found my purpose.
And in that moment, I knew that true wealth wasn’t in money or material possessions, but in the connections we cherish and the values we uphold. Grandpa had taught me that, and it was a lesson I would carry with me forever.
A woman visiting a gravesite | Source: Pexels
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