Till Baby Do Us Part

Heart on the Line

TAY

It was already 3 a.m., and I stood quietly at the doorway of our hospital room, watching the people I loved most sleeping soundly. Mild was shifting around in her sleep—a habit she had when she was hungry. Not wanting to disturb Hin, I went in, quickly prepared a bottle, and fed her. I carried her, pacing back and forth until she drifted off. In that moment, I couldn't help but feel this was how it was meant to be. I was meant to be a present father and husband, to be there whenever my family needed me. It was all I had ever wanted, but life was unfair, and I had to make difficult choices to protect my family. I couldn't do much, but I was willing to try everything to at least be a father who provided.

That cool afternoon, everything changed. I got a call from the office and, without wasting a second, kissed New and our girls goodbye, rushing straight there. I hoped what HR told me was a mistake, but the chaotic scene at work confirmed my fears. My heart sank. As the head of sales, I was responsible for making critical financial decisions, and I'd greenlit a high-stakes project, certain it would yield substantial returns. We had investors lined up, ready to back our largest investment yet, but suddenly, the lead investor pulled out. Like dominoes, the others withdrew too, and now all the company's funds were on the line, threatening us with bankruptcy. If the company failed, it would destroy my career with no chance of getting it back, and I couldn't risk that. I spent days persuading investors, waiting in their lobbies for hours for a chance to talk, even if only for a few minutes. But no one was willing to reconsider.

At work, I was isolated, blamed. I understood their anger—they were about to lose their jobs because of my decision. The pressure was crushing, and depression set in. I couldn't tell New; I couldn't bear to let him down after I had promised to take care of him and the kids, so I silently cried in the bed we shared, carrying the burden alone.

I tried a new strategy, seeking new investors, but they took advantage of my desperation. I ran errands for them, picked them up when they drank too much, stayed in my car while they partied, and then drove them home. I endured it all, willing to do anything to save my job and protect my family. Money was tight, and Great had been helping, lending what I needed to cover baby supplies. I spent more time in my car searching for investors than in the office, working from early morning until midnight.

My life was unraveling, and I knew I had neglected my family for months without explanation. If New wanted a divorce, I wouldn't blame him; I had abandoned my responsibilities as a husband and father, and yet I was still close to losing it all.

"The doctor said we could leave in the morning," New's voice was soft, pulling me back to reality. I looked at him, his eyes meeting mine in the dim light.

"Oh... okay," I murmured, unsure of what else to say, I didn't know when he woke up.

An uncomfortable silence settled between us. I wanted to reach out, to bridge the gap that had grown over these months, but I hesitated. After a moment, I took a deep breath, deciding it was time to finally clear the air.

"Earlier, when I... I didn't mean I regretted being with you," I began. "Or having you and the girls as my family. I meant... I regret the decisions that kept me from being here, from being the father and husband I should've been." I paused, searching his face for any sign of understanding. "I could never regret having you in my life. You and the girls... you're my pride. My joy and I would never in my life cheat on you, I swear."

New's gaze softened, but he remained silent. Slowly, tears began to fill his eyes, and he looked down, blinking rapidly as if trying to hold them back. I could feel the weight of his pain, the months of silent suffering I'd caused.

"I'm sorry for hitting you... after I promised I'd never get physical again and I know you would never cheat on me, I'm sorry," he whispered.

He looked away, his shoulders tense. The apology lingered in the air, heavy with unspoken hurt. I knew how hard this must have been for him to say, and I couldn't let him carry the guilt alone.

"It's okay, New," I said, my voice steady, trying to reassure him. "Given everything... it was understandable."

There was a pause as I gently laid Mild down, my movements slow and careful. Then I moved to New, stopping just in front of him. I reached out, hesitant, and pulled him into my arms. He let out a soft, shuddering breath, and his arms tightened around me.

We were there, holding each other, and the weight of all the unsaid words dissolved into our shared embrace. We both began to cry, quietly at first, then letting the tears flow. All the pain, all the months of separation and silence, came pouring out as we clung to each other.

A week later, things seemed to settle. I managed to enroll Milk and Mild in preschool so New could pursue his master's degree without worrying about the kids. For the first time, it felt like we were piecing our lives back together. But life wasn't fair. Just when I thought things were improving, the company let me go. They called it "incompetence." After all the success I'd brought them, my first failure led to my dismissal. The weight of it drove me to a bar not far from home, where I drank until I could barely stand. I wanted nothing more than to disappear, to escape the burden of facing my family with nothing left to give.

"What the hell, Tay?"

"Oh, look, everyone—it's my lovely husband!" I said, smiling brightly but my heart heavy.

***************
Please drop a vote and tell me what you think😊
Also checkout my other work Lost and Found, you'll love it.