Like every other morning, this seemed no different at the Williams’. At the breakfast table, David serves the staple cereal and milk while he prepares his usual sunny side up.
Emma, as usual, enters the gathering rather late, nibbles at her toast while on a phone call and rushes to work with the kids. She would drop them to school every day on the way to work.
"I'm leaving! See you in the evening" is their only 'conversation' in the morning. It's like their way of saying 'Good morning' and 'Goodbye' both together! But there was something unusual about that day. David gave a longer kiss to his children and a smile to his beloved which was somewhat cryptic.
David was a stay at home Dad who'd happily accepted this duty for the woman in his life - a career driven lady. For her, every step in life was a target. Like a little checklist. This is why, once she had marriage off the list, her focus immediately shifted to something else. One can never have the best of both worlds, and Emma happily or ignorantly kicked family out of her priorities and David lovingly obliged. She always felt the supreme responsibility of being the bread earner of the house and when it came to the kids - Nick and Trisha, she never trusted anyone but David.
While leaving, Emma did feel an unusual calm in the house. A depressing vibe which she conveniently ignored, being in a hurry.
David was fidgeting with his wedding ring while Emma revved the car engine. That day was their 7th Anniversary and it was no surprise that Emma had forgotten. While the car left the driveway, David reminisced about how prefect things used to be when they first fell in love, dated, or even when they got married. Their lives seemed complete the day Nick's baby fingers touched their souls. That was the day when David decided to kick his job to live solely for his family. But, it so happened, that ever since Trisha came into their lives; it’s just been years of fights, stress and a constant wait. Wait, to spend quality time with Emma, almost as rare as Santa. He prayed for a miracle to rejuvenate their love. Their relationship turned so robotic that even their occasional love making nights were now a rare occurrence, almost on the verge of extinction.
David was exhausted, helpless and lonely. It's not easy to see your marriage and family disintegrate day by day. For a while he'd been thinking of a final solution to this problem that had been haunting him since a long, long time. He loved her too much to pressurize her with his expectations, especially when there were no signs of concern from the other end, and yet he couldn't stand being a depressed father to his kids. Hence on their 7th Anniversary he wrote Emma a long letter explaining his fears and his infinite attempts to change the situation which were of no help. He expressed that the only solution was to end his existence. That way he wouldn't be a burden on the people he loved the most. He leaves this letter titled "I quit - #1" on the dining table, places his wedding ring on top of it and leaves; in a way that doesn't guarantee his return.
When Emma returned home with the kids, she was startled to find the house dark and empty. She immediately noticed the note, threw her bag and grabbed hold of the letter. His ring rolled down the table and as she picked it up, she feared that it could be a signal for trouble. Her heart was thumping as she read the title. Some excerpts of what she read:
"Hey baby, Happy 7th Anniversary! I remember how as a pre-married couple we'd celebrate even the monthly Anniversaries with elaborate celebrations. I was a fan of how you'd kiss me and wish me with an enthusiasm that no one could beat."
"But now, I can't bear to see our family die a slow death. I can no longer have endless fights with you; put you through the stress of choosing between your ambition and family. Yes, I took up being at home voluntarily and happily and I told you to follow your dreams. But I never imagined that there'd be a point in life where I wouldn't feel your love, AT ALL."
"Baby, by the time you reach home and read this, I'd be no more, won't be around and you won't have to bear with the pain-in-the-ass husband. Our kids don't deserve a depressed and lonely father and you don't deserve the stress of home along with work stress."
"Lastly, I know all this may be a lot to take in, but I wanted to leave you with fond memories of us. Hence I had fixed an anonymous delivery through which for the next six days you'll receive little surprises. This letter is the first item of the 7 things from me to you, as gifts for our 7 years of togetherness!"
Emma was devastated. She didn't sleep that night. Her eyes were swollen and dry after crying buckets. She spent the night cursing herself for her unjustified behavior and for taking advantage of her own husband. She knew that she was solely responsible for ruining her marriage, family, and now the demise of her husband. Yet, she couldn't come to terms with the fact that he was no more. To understand and accept the disaster as well as to come out of shock, she took leave from work. She anyway hated the thought of going back to the place which was partly the reason for her predicament. She didn't know what answers to give to the innocent eyes of her children. For the next six days, every morning she received the following items with a small note.
Day 2: Red Roses – to remind her of when he asked her out
Day 3: Movie tickets – to remind her of how they’d sneak out for movies before marriage
Day 4: Bruno (the dog) – to help keep her occupied and deal with this situation
Day 5: Their wedding video – to show her how ecstatic they both once were
Day 6: By now, she was used to the idea of receiving souvenirs from her beloved husband. But that day she didn't receive a thing. She spent the entire day, restless and worried. She was furious at the delivery agency that, according to her, was at fault. These souvenirs literally helped her cope through the shock. She couldn't eat or sleep. It was truly the worst day of her life.
Day 7: She was rather anxious that morning. Depression and loneliness was evident from her face. She knew that it was the last of her 'moments' with David. These little items were the only things that would comfort her widowed self. Just then, the doorbell rang and the mail man handed her a letter which read "#7: There's more to it"
It was a 7 page letter by David in which she expected to be told how to be strong without him and how to learn to move on. She knew he'd tell her that his love was genuine and that she should forgive him for his doing. But she was mistaken and completely appalled to find that the letter was something she had never expected. Some excerpts:
“I know you may not be able to forgive me. But in my heart I know I did the right thing. I’ve heard somewhere that ‘you only realize the value of something when you almost lose it’. That’s why I ended my existence in YOUR life. I could never possibly let you live your life in guilt over my suicide. Yes baby, I’m alive. For the first time in my life I simply can’t predict your reaction. Happiness? Relief? Or anger? Whatever it is, please understand I did this only after realizing the stagnant state of our relationship. When all the talks, fights and discussions had no effect for years, I was frustrated and left with no option. I couldn’t bear the sad condition of our family and had to take a call.”
“Sweetheart, I know I’ve played with your emotions, but please look at the bigger picture. If you do consider to start afresh, to give our family a second chance, and to try a different approach, I plead with you to meet me at Jogger’s Park after 3 days. I’ll be there at 12am waiting for my soul mate. The choice is yours and I’ll respect it, no matter what.
I love you. Always have. Always will.”
While David was filled with anxiety and restlessness for the judgment day, Emma was furious after reading the letter. She could not forgive David for the lie and what he made her go through for the past seven days. His death note, him being shattered, having to leave his job, having no answer for the kids and later realizing that he was alive was certainly a lot to take in. She was also very guilty to have taken the best guy in the world for granted, so much so, that she could drive him to take such a decision and she also felt sad that she had neglected her children all along. It was like a flood of emotions. She couldn’t decipher whether she was happy, furious, upset or all.
Each passing hour felt like a decade. She didn’t eat or drink anything for the next three days. She transformed into an absolute maniac trying to figure out her next move. She was in extreme distress. She was constantly thinking whether it was best for them to move on, in their own separate ways, as clearly it hadn’t worked out well for them in the past. And then she would consider starting afresh with the love of her life, making adjustments, prioritizing, and most importantly loving each other. Anybody would feel like a lunatic being in her spot. Three days passed like three minutes.
On the third day, David reached the spot an hour early. He had a camera with him to capture the moment she would walk up to him with a smile and teary eyes. The man who loved his woman more than anything on earth, waited with bated breath. He sat on a bench the whole day, crying, cursing himself for taking that call. But then his conscience would console him that whatever happens would be for the best.
She never came!
She decided to move on. She thought David deserved a better woman than she ever was to him. Someone who could love him much, much more than she did. She left her job, one that demanded everything from her, and devoted majority of her time to the kids. She would work for a few hours in the noon at a new workplace nearby. The kids loved the new her, but they’d always be left with no answer when they asked about their Dad.
He rented a small apartment in another town and took up a job that was nothing to boast about. He missed her every single day. There was not a moment when he wouldn’t think of what she or his kids were doing. A lot of the times he felt the urge to call her up, but then he’d convince himself to respect her choice.
One year later.
Both of them had lost hopes about each other. They’d convinced themselves that the other one was probably happy and had moved on. But the truth was completely the opposite.
It’s now been one year and three months since they both parted. But it feels like yesterday for the both of them. Today, Emma takes her kids to the nearby mall. It’s a Sunday and the kids are having a gala time at the play zone. Emma sits at a nearby table reading a book. After an hour as she walks with the kids towards the food court, suddenly there’s no sign of Trisha. Emma panics as she’s searches for her daughter and moments later, in the distance she spots her with a man. As she gets closer, she finds the man sobbing bitterly while embracing Trisha. That was when she knew what destiny had planned for her.
She and “her man” walk out of the mall holding hands and that’s when David notices his wedding ring on Emma’s finger. Emma has tears as she walks out with a broad smile, her head on his shoulder, and David looks like he’s been to the moon and back.
It’s true isn’t it?
You only realize the true value of something when you almost lose it!
