We were married for thirty years.
When I married Krzysztof, I believed that our love would survive everything. We swore to each other for better or for worse. But I didn't think that the bad would come so quickly and that I would be left all alone with him.
We were married for thirty years. I had a home, a family, children, stability. I thought we had a life together, plans together, values together. And then I found out about his debts.
At first it was the little things – an unpaid bill, a letter from the bank that he “forgot”. I didn't worry. After all, everyone has bad moments sometimes.
But then came the demands for repayment of loans I never knew about.
„Krzysztof, what does that mean?– I asked, holding the documents in my hand.
He waved his hand as if it was a trifle.
„Calm down, everything is under control.”
It wasn’t under control.
More letters, more phone calls, more worrying looks as he checked the account. And then the divorce.
He left me. He found himself a younger one, a “new beginning,” as he called it. He left me – and the debts he took out in our joint name.
I was sure that the children would support me. After all, I had always been a good mother, I took care of them, I gave them my whole heart. I didn't do anything wrong.
But when we sat down to talk, the looks they gave me were cold.
„Mom, that's your business,– my daughter said.
„But you're the one who divorced him,– added the son.
As if it was my fault.
As if I made a mistake, as if I incurred these debts.
„But it wasn't me…– I whispered.
„We can't help you– my daughter interrupted. „We have our own lives.”
They have their own lives.
And me?
I was left with his debts, with an empty house, with a sense of injustice that choked me every day.
I don't know how I'm going to cope. I don't have the strength anymore.
But I know one thing for sure – I've sacrificed myself for them my whole life. And when I needed help, I was left alone.