The divorce was ugly. Will, the man I once loved, became hostile. I walked away with nothing but the few things I’d brought into the marriage. Though I was heartbroken over breaking my promises to the children, I felt relief.
For years, I moved on with my life, but those memories haunted me. I often wondered if I’d done the right thing by leaving Will—and the kids. Then, 15 years later, something unexpected happened.
Tamara, now 25, called me out of the blue. I was nervous, bracing for anger or resentment, but instead, she said something that brought me to tears: “Madison, you left us with the most beautiful memories. You were the main mother figure in our lives.”
I was stunned. I had always felt like I’d failed them. Tamara explained that, as they grew older, she and Nick understood why I left. “We saw who Dad really was,” she said. “We missed you every day.”
She shared that Will never remarried, though he continued dating, searching for someone to fill the role I had. But no one stayed. Eventually, Tamara and Nick had to grow up fast and learn to take care of themselves.
We arranged to meet, and when I saw Tamara and Nick again, it was overwhelming. They thanked me for the love and care I had given them. “You taught us what kindness is,” Nick said, his voice breaking. As I sat with them, I felt a mix of pride and regret.
Had I known back then how much I meant to them, would I have stayed? Seeing the remarkable adults they had become, I questioned if I made the right choice all those years ago. Leaving Will was necessary for my mental health, but it meant leaving two children who looked up to me.
But as we reconnected, I realized that despite the pain of leaving, I had left something meaningful behind. The love and care I’d given during those hard years had taken root and grown.
So, I ask you, do you think I made the right decision by leaving? What would you have done in my place?