Anna Sargent sat on the kitchen floor, tears rolling down her face.
It was past midnight, and it was the only time she allowed herself to be vulnerable, knowing her three children were sound asleep upstairs.
The baby growing inside her moved gently and she placed a hand on her stomach. ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered, feeling a wave of guilt. ‘I’m trying my best, but it’s not enough…’
Two months ago, Anna had been a happy wife and mother, looking forward to the arrival of her fourth child.
She had no doubts about her future and her husband’s love. But that sense of security was shattered.
One evening her husband, Derek, came home and suddenly announced that he was leaving. ‘Why?’ – Anna asked, puzzled. ‘I thought we were happy.’
‘YOU were happy!’ – Derek bellowed. ‘All you did was have babies and fuss with them.
And now we have another baby on the way and I’m done!’
Anna reminded him that he’d always wanted children, that he’d been excited about every pregnancy.
But Derek’s response was cold: ‘You were only thinking about babies. I was just a source of money for you! Well, now it’s over.’
Three months after Anna joyfully announced her pregnancy, Derek left.
With him gone, Anna had to find a way to provide for her family, and she took a part-time job at a grocery shop.
Although the owner offered her full-time work, Anna couldn’t afford to pay for childcare, and her salary was barely enough, even with the child allowance that Derek reluctantly sent.
Looking for a way to make ends meet, Anna began selling off her jewellery.
She parted with antique china she had inherited from her grandmother to pay the utilities, and later sold a child’s silver comb and mirror set to buy groceries. Gradually, as her belly grew, she sold all the valuable items to keep her children safe and fed.
One day, when there was almost nothing of value left, Anna noticed an old pram she had retrieved from the basement.
It was the same pram that she herself had ridden in as a child and that her children used.
Although it was already several decades old, it was in excellent condition. Anna ran her fingers over the delicate roses painted on the sides, realising that she needed the money more than this pram for her newborn.
At the flea market, a vendor offered her $50 for a pram. It was not a large sum, but Anna agreed, hoping that the money would help cover some of her debts. She left, thinking she would never see her pram again. But two days later, Anna was surprised to see the pram back on her doorstep with an envelope inside. The note read: ‘Please call me,’ followed by a phone number. When Anna rang, a woman named Grace Robbs answered. To Anna’s surprise, Grace turned out to be Derek’s ex-girlfriend.
Grace explained through tears that she had recently found out she was pregnant, unaware of Anna and her family.
Although Grace didn’t know that Derek was married, she decided to surprise him and bought a pram at a flea market to put in her living room with a sign that read ‘Hi Daddy!’. But instead of joy, Derek exploded with rage, demanding she return the pram and bring it to Anna.
‘He told me to return it and come to you,’ Grace said, shocked. ‘He said he didn’t want any more children.’
Anna, though hurt, comforted Grace. The young woman was alone, without family or home.
In a moment of solidarity, Anna offered: ‘Move in with us,’ she said. ‘I need help with my kids, and I need to work full time. Maybe we can help each other.’
Grace, who was working remotely, happily agreed to care for the children while Anna worked.
So the two women formed an unexpected partnership. Anna was able to get a full-time job running a shop, and Grace found a place where she and her child could be happy.
They raised their children together, creating a family filled with love and mutual support.
When Anna’s baby was born, Grace was there for her, and when Grace’s turn came a few months later, Anna returned the favour.
Meanwhile, Derek went through several failed relationships. Eventually, he returned to Anna, asking to talk. ‘I miss you,’ he said, expecting sympathy.
Anna, stronger and happier now, just looked at him and replied, ‘I’m sorry, I’m not interested.’ And with that, she closed the door in front of him forever.
