Two years ago, my wife Anna left me and our four-year-old twins after I lost my job. She walked out with nothing but a suitcase and a cold, “I can’t do this anymore,” leaving me alone to face mounting bills, childcare, and heartbreak in one of the country’s most expensive cities. For months, I struggled working nights driving for ride-shares and days delivering groceries, while trying to comfort Max and Lily, who kept asking about their mother.

With help from my retired parents and sheer determination, I slowly rebuilt our lives. I landed a steady remote job in cybersecurity, moved us into a smaller but cozier apartment, and created a routine where we weren’t just surviving anymore we were thriving.Then, exactly two years after she left, I saw Anna again.

She was sitting alone in a café, unkempt and in tears no longer the polished, confident woman I once loved. She confessed she had made a mistake leaving, losing her job, friends, and financial support, and begged for a second chance.But as she spoke, I realized she hadn’t once mentioned our children.

Max and Lily deserved a parent who put them first. I told her our family had moved on without her, and that for now, the chapter with Anna was closed.That night, watching my kids laugh and share their drawings, I knew I would protect them and wait to see if Anna ever truly changed.