Never There ~ A Jelsa Story~

Twenty; Lies

"Elsie! I'm home!" Jack called, and I tried to keep calm, but it wasn't at all easy. "Elsa?" 

"Oh, hi, Jack..." I replied, not up at him. 

"Aren't you going to run up to me with the kids and kiss me then, like you always do?" he asked, and I didn't reply. I remembered the scene of him and Rapunzel in the restaurant once again. 

"I'm busy," I said, cooly, writing some things down.

"What are you writing, sweetheart?"

"A story," I told him, and he frowned.

"About what?"

"It's for Tyler. I-it's about pirates. I've run out of bed time stories to read him," I lied. I wasn't writing a story at all. I was preparing a speech - how I would tell Jack that I was leaving him.

"Can I read it?" he asked, and I shook my head.

"It isn't ready. Maybe later. Tyler's upstairs, I better go and see to him," I said, and took my papers with me as I went up the steps. I started to write a letter in my bedroom. Our  bedroom.

Dear Jack Frost, 

Just a few days ago I would be able to tell you anything, even this, face to face. Not that I would want to tell you this.

But I'm scared to tell you that I'm leaving you. What would you do to me? If you were a normal person, you would have obeyed the law, and so I wouldn't need to be frightened. But if you can break our marriage vows, the ones that you wanted us to say, it isn't so hard to break the law either, is it?

Yes, I know about Rapunzel. Jackunzel, I should say. How, you might ask, how could I possibly know about you and her. But, you see, Jack, I saw you together with my own eyes. And you needn't say that you are just friends, seeing each other as work colleagues, or as, indeed, just friends. Because I saw you doing everything that you had done to me. That kiss lasted for a long time, so it couldn't have been an accident. 

I have already left you, and by the time you read this, I will be long gone. You'll never know where I am, and you'll never see the kids again. They're coming with me. Jewel, Maya, Amber and Tyler, they all love me, more than they ever loved you. I spent more time with them this year than you have all their lives. 

When we saw you, it was a rare treat. But now I know why we never saw you. You were cheating on me with one of my bridesmaids. Let's hope Rapunzel doesn't mysteriously get pregnant, that's all I can say, cause then Eugene will know.

Did you ever love me? Yes, I guess you did, otherwise the kids wouldn't have been born. But it was after the twins were born that you started disappearing. You've been flirting with another girl for 3 years. You come back home every night at 4am, and leave for work at 7am. We get 3 hours together a day. I can't believe I didn't notice before.

I'm stronger than I was before, Jack. I won't harm myself, see, because I have another man too. But no, I didn't cheat on you. I told him that I had you, and even though I never saw you, I loved you. He still loves me, though, and now I'm going to accept him. I'm going to live with him. But, guess what? Anna doesn't know about him. Only I know him. You don't know where he lives. And by now, I'll be miles away. 

I'm sorry Jack. But it isn't my fault, is it? This is what you've chosen.

Goodbye, Jack. 

It was nice knowing ya.

Your loving, faithful wife, Elsa.

By the time I had finished it, tears were rolling down my face. Tyler had found his way into my room without me knowing, and he asked me a question in his soft voice. "Mummy, why are you crying?"

"Sh, Daddy'll hear you," I whispered, decided that I should tell Tyler the truth. "Daddy has been naughty, Tyler. He doesn't know that I've seen him be bad, but soon he will. You won't tell him, will you?"

"No," Tyler said, "Has he been... v-violet?"

I gave a little laugh. "No, he hasn't been violent. But he might be, and you don't want to live with a violent Daddy, do you?"

Tyler sat down and thought for a few moments. "No. Mummy, are we going to live with a new Daddy?"

I nodded. "Tyler, he's lovely, sweetheart."

"What if Daddy finds out you are living with another Daddy?"

"We'll tell him when the time comes, but not face to face. We'll tell him in a letter. You must tell Daddy that this is a story, about pirates, OK?"

"OK... Will Daddy find another Mummy?"

I closed my eyes, remembering the moment of their kiss again. "Don't tell Daddy I know this, Ty, but I saw him with another Mummy."

"Do I have another sister? Or do I get a brother?" he asked, looking rather serious. He seemed to think that every couple had a child, and it became annoying in the street when he saw people walking down the street, holding hands. 

"As far as I know, you don't have a sibling yet. So, not a word of this to your sisters, or your Daddy, OK?"

"OK," Tyler replied, and he smiled at me before leaving the room.