Jessica feels a surge of panic as she faces an unfamiliar city with three young children in tow. Her husband, Alex, has abandoned them, leaving her to manage alone. As she grapples with her rising anxiety, Jessica resolves to turn the tables on him. Her bold plan will not only keep her children safe but also make Alex regret his selfish decision.
I sat on the couch, feeling a bit unsure. Alex was across the room, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he spread out brochures of the city we planned to visit.
A man going through a brochure | Pexels
“It’ll be an adventure, Jess!” he exclaimed, pointing to various attractions on the brochures. “Emma will love the museum, and Jack and Oliver will have a blast at the zoo.”
I tried to match his enthusiasm but couldn’t shake my worries. “I don’t know, Alex,” I said, frowning. “Traveling with three kids sounds stressful, especially since we’ve never been there before.”
A stressed woman | Source: Midjourney
Alex waved his hand dismissively. “You’re overthinking it,” he replied. “We’ll have fun. Trust me.”
Emma, our oldest at ten, had her nose buried in a book but glanced up, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“I can’t wait to see the museum, Mom! They have a dinosaur exhibit!” she chirped.
A smiling girl | Source: Unsplash
Nine-year-old Jack was already bouncing on the balls of his feet. “And the zoo! I want to see the lions and tigers!”
Oliver, our youngest at five, was sitting next to me, clutching his stuffed bear. He looked up at me with wide eyes. “Mommy, will there be monkeys at the zoo?”
A happy child with a teddy bear | Source: Midjourney
I couldn’t help but smile at their excitement, but the thought of managing three kids in an unfamiliar city still made me anxious.
“Alright, let’s give it a try,” I finally said, sighing.
A sad woman | Source: Pexels
The kids erupted in cheers, and Alex grinned triumphantly.
Then he sat down next to me, squeezing my hand. “It’ll be fine, Jessica. We’ll make some great memories.”
A couple holding hands | Source: Unsplash
I nodded, hoping he was right.
“But we need to plan this carefully,” I said, trying to organize my thoughts. “We should make a list of everything we need to pack and check the weather forecast.”
A couple relaxing at home | Source: Pexels
“Good idea,” Alex agreed. “And let’s make sure we have all the tickets and reservations sorted out.”
“I can help with packing, Mom,” Emma chimed in. “I’ll make sure we don’t forget anything important.”
“I’ll pack my toys and games for the car ride!” Jack said.
A happy kid with a carton box | Source: Midjourney
Oliver just hugged his bear tighter, looking content with the idea of the trip.
But just a day into the trip, I was already exhausted. The hotel room felt too small and cluttered with all our luggage. Oliver was lying on the bed, clutching his stomach and whimpering.
“Mom, my stomach hurts,” he groaned.
A sad kid in bed | Source: Midjourney
“I know, sweetie. I’ll get you some medicine,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. I rummaged through our bags, searching for the medicine.
Emma was sitting by the window, arms crossed and a pout on her face. “I want to go home,” she repeated for what felt like the hundredth time.
A girl by the window | Source: Pexels
“Honey, please be patient. We’ll go out again soon,” I said, though I wasn’t sure how much longer I could handle this.
Emma huffed and turned away, clearly not convinced. My frustration was rising. Everything seemed to be going wrong.
A frustrated woman | Source: Pexels
Jack had almost wandered off twice that day, causing me to panic each time. I couldn’t keep an eye on all three kids at once, and it was starting to show.
I finally found the medicine and handed it to Oliver. “Here you go, sweetie. This should help your tummy feel better.”
Pills | Source: Pexels
“Thanks, Mom,” Oliver said weakly before taking the medicine.
I sat down on the edge of the bed, feeling utterly drained. “Okay, everyone. Let’s try to relax for a bit. We’ve had a long day.”
A woman looking stressed | Source: Midjourney
Emma didn’t even look at me.
Jack was fiddling with his toys on the floor, oblivious to the tension in the room. I knew I needed to pull it together for their sake, but it was hard. I had hoped this trip would bring us closer, but right now, it felt like it was doing the opposite.
A child busy playing with his toys | Source: Midjourney
I took a deep breath, trying to find some calm. “Jack, why don’t you come sit with me for a bit? Let’s read a story together.”
Jack looked up, a small smile on his face. “Okay, Mom,” he said.
He grabbed his favorite book and climbed onto the bed next to me.
A mother and son reading a book | Source: Pexels
As I started reading, I noticed Emma glancing our way. She still looked upset, but I hoped the story might distract her for a little while.
“Emma, would you like to join us?” I asked gently.
A girl pointing at something in a book | Source: Pexels
She shook her head but didn’t turn away this time. Progress, I thought to myself. At least she was listening.
Reading to Jack helped calm me down a bit. His soft giggles and the way he snuggled close made me feel like maybe, just maybe, we could salvage this trip.
I glanced at Oliver, who was starting to look a bit more comfortable. The medicine was working.
A mother looking after her sick child | Source: Pexels
After the story, I turned to Emma again. “I know today has been tough, but we’re in this together. We’ll figure it out.”
Emma sighed, finally meeting my eyes. “I just want to have fun, Mom,” she said.
A sad girl hugging a stuffed animal | Source: Pexels
“I know, sweetheart. We will. We just need to take it one step at a time,” I said, trying to reassure her and myself at the same time.
The kids seemed to settle a bit after that. We all needed a break, a moment to breathe.
Alex had stepped away for a call, and just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, he returned and dropped a bombshell.
A man holding a phone | Source: Pexels
“I’m going to meet a college friend at a bar,” he announced casually as if it were no big deal. “He’s here in town.”
“Absolutely not!” I snapped, feeling my frustration bubble over. “What am I supposed to do alone with three kids in a new city? Alex, we’d discussed this! You can’t just leave me alone.”
A couple arguing in a hotel room | Source: Midjourney
“You’ll be fine, take them to the park,” he replied nonchalantly, already calling for an Uber. Before I could argue further, he left without another word.
I stood there for a moment, fuming. How could he just leave us like that? Did he really think it was okay to abandon us like this? In a new city, no less?
A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I needed to pull it together for the kids. “Get your things, kids. We’re going out,” I said firmly.
“Where are we going, Mom?” Jack asked.
“You’ll see,” I replied. I wasn’t going to let Alex ruin this trip for us.
A stern-looking woman | Source: Pexels
We quickly gathered our things, and I led the kids out of the hotel room.
The city outside was bustling, but I kept a firm grip on Jack and Oliver’s hands, with Emma walking closely beside me.
A woman holding her child’s hand | Source: Pexels
As we navigated the crowded streets, I couldn’t shake my growing anger.
This trip was Alex’s idea, he had done nothing to help, and now that he wasn’t having fun, he was going to ditch us to get drunk with his buddy?!
I pulled out my phone and tracked Alex’s location.
A woman holding a phone | Source: Pexels
An hour later, we finally arrived at the bar, dimly lit and filled with people. I took a deep breath, my eyes scanning for my husband. The kids stayed close as we entered.
Finally, I spotted Alex at the counter, talking to the bartender. There was no college friend in sight. My anger flared.
A man sitting alone at a bar | Source: Midjourney
“Alex, what’s going on here?” I demanded as I approached him.
Alex turned, his face going pale. “Jess? Jessica, what are you doing here?”
“You lied!” I said. “There’s no friend, is there?”
An angry woman | Source: Midjourney
Alex stammered, trying to come up with an excuse. “Jessica, I just needed a break. It’s been a rough day.”
“Oh really? I’ve been trying to manage everything since we’ve come here, and you were the one who had a rough day?”
A couple arguing at a bar | Source: Midjourney
“Look, I—”
“Kids, order whatever you want! Daddy is treating us tonight!” I announced.
Emma, Jack, and Oliver were excited. Alex stood there, baffled, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
A shocked man | Source: Midjourney
“Have fun, Alex. I’m going to explore the city,” I said, turning on my heel and walking out of the bar, leaving the kids with him.
As I stepped outside, I took a deep breath and smiled. It was time to enjoy the rest of my vacation on my terms.
Did you really think you could get away with dumping the kids on me, Alex? I fumed silently as I headed to the fancy diner.
Do you think I did the right thing?
A woman enjoying her food | Source: Freepik
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This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
