I made up my mind
Author’s pov
It was early in the morning when Juliana woke up, her mind made up to leave Justin’s house. The decision to leave her husband's house had been brewing in her mind for many days, but it was the night before when she had finally settled on it. She moved quietly, making sure not to wake anyone, especially her daughter Daisy. She slipped out of bed, careful not to make a sound as she packed a few of her clothes into a medium-sized handbag.
Juliana didn’t want Daisy to see her leaving. Her heart ached at the thought, but she believed it was best for both her and her husband in the long run. After taking a quick bath and dressing, she paused at the door to her bedroom. Something tugged at her heart, reminding her that she needed to leave a note for Daisy. With a sigh, she grabbed a pen and a piece of paper, sitting at her making up chair. Her hand shook slightly as she began to write.
“My dear Daisy,
With tears in my eyes, I write this to you. I thought I could endure everything I’ve been going through recently, but today I reached my breaking point. My marriage to your dad is no longer what it used to be. He was once a precious gem to me, but now he’s not the man I married. He’s the reason I’m leaving this house today. If he truly wants me, he will come after me and prove his love. I’ve endured enough, and it’s time for me to separate from your dad. Probably separating will spark the flame of love we first had. I miss you dearly already, and I will always keep in touch with you. This is the best decision for me, my love. Don't feel disappointed. I will come back for you, I promise.
I love you, my pride.
Love, Mum.”
Juliana placed the note carefully in an envelope, then quietly tiptoed towards Daisy ’s room. Her daughter was fast asleep, her little face peaceful, unaware of the storm raging in Juliana’s heart. She gently tied the note to the handle of the door, making sure it wouldn’t fall off. Taking one last look at Daisy, Juliana swallowed back her tears, quietly closed the door, and walked out of the room.
At exactly 4:00 am, Juliana stepped out of Justin’s house, leaving behind the life she had struggled to hold onto for years. The house was silent, with everyone still asleep. She got into her car, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her. As the engine started, Justin stirred in bed, briefly hearing the sound of the car. But in his half-asleep state, he couldn’t have imagined that Juliana had finally made up her mind to leave him that day.
Juliana drove in the darkness, the streetlights casting shadows across her face. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as she fought to keep her focus. Her heart was heavy, and her mind raced with thoughts of what her life would become now that she had left Justin.
At this particular time, there was one place in mind, her parents’ place. She drove straight to her parents’ house. Upon arriving, the first light of the dawn had not yet begun to shine over the horizon.
Dan and Rachael, her parents, were still in bed, although they were already awake. They heard the faint sound of a car pulling into the driveway but didn’t expect a visitor at this hour. Seconds later, a knock came at the door. Dan moved his head and frowned
“Who could be knocking on our door so early?” Dan asked, still half-asleep as he rubbed his eyes.
“Are you expecting anyone, love?” Rachael asked, her voice curious but a bit wary.
“This early? Definitely not,” Dan muttered, sitting up in bed. He was in his late sixties, and moving his right leg had become increasingly difficult. Before he could even finish dressing, Rachael was already out of bed, reaching for her robe.
“Don’t worry, I’ll go check who it is,” she said, but Dan shook his head.
“I won’t let you take on such a risky task alone.”
Before Dan could protest further, Rachael was already halfway to the door. She descended the stairs carefully but swiftly, and by the time she reached the living room, Dan was right behind her. When they opened the door, they were greeted by the sight of Juliana standing with her back to them, facing her car.
“Juliana?” Rachael exclaimed, shocked to see her daughter standing there at this hour.
Juliana hesitated, still facing away from the door, not sure how to begin. Her mother’s voice, however, broke the silence. “What are you doing here at this time? What happened?” Rachael asked, taking note of Juliana’s swollen eyes and tear-streaked face.
Juliana turned slowly, her emotions catching up with her as she moved towards her mother. She stepped forward and embraced Rachael, finally letting the tears fall.
“It’s all Dad’s fault,” she cried. “If he had let me marry the man I loved, I wouldn’t be in this situation.”
Dan frowned, feeling the weight of her accusation hit him square in the chest. He exchanged a glance with Rachael before taking a step forward.
“Let’s go inside,” Rachael suggested gently, guiding Juliana by the arm. Dan closed the door behind them, locking it as they moved into the living room.
Once seated, Rachael reached for Juliana’s hand. “Please, stop crying. What’s going on, darling?” she asked.
For a moment, Juliana remained silent, her thoughts tangled. Dan, still feeling guilty, sat closer to his daughter, his voice soft as he asked, “Sweetheart, did your husband hurt you? Did he lay his hands on you?”
Juliana shook her head, her tears still flowing. “No.”
“Did you catch him cheating?” he asked, his tone growing more concerned.
“No,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Tears continued to stream down her face.
“Did he insult you?” Rachael pressed gently.
“No,” she answered, but the pain in her voice was clear.
Dan leaned back, puzzled. “If Justin didn’t do any of these things, what happened, love? Why did you leave the house so early, before the sun’s even up?” he asked, pointing to the faint light outside the window.
Juliana wiped her eyes, sniffling as she prepared herself to speak. “He stopped sleeping with me,” she finally said, her voice barely audible.
Dan and Rachael exchanged another glance, both now thoroughly confused. “What do you mean?” Rachael asked.
Juliana shifted in her seat. “There’s been no intimacy… for a long time,” she admitted, her eyes dropping to the floor in shame.
“How long?” Dan asked quietly.
“It’s been months. Over six months,” Juliana admitted. “Ever since he left his job as head coach, everything changed. He wasn’t fired, he just… left, and then he stopped being the man I knew."
Rachael squeezed her daughter’s hand. “Have you talked to him about it?”
“I’ve tried, Mum. I even suggested seeing a doctor, but he always brushes it off. One night, I even tried touching him while he was asleep, and he was hard. That’s when I realised he was avoiding me on purpose. I’m sure he’s cheating. A man can’t go that long without… without something being wrong.”
Dan shook his head, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “I’ll call Justin in the morning.”
“No, Dad,” Juliana interrupted, her voice suddenly firm. “Don’t. If he wants me, he’ll come after me. I won’t beg for his love anymore. He should be the one to fight for me. Leave him alone to resume the desire he once had.”
She stood up suddenly, walking to the fridge and pulling out a bottle of wine. She poured herself a glass, her back turned to her parents. “I’m done waiting for things to change. I have my own company, my own money. I don’t need to stay with him anymore.”
Rachael watched her daughter, feeling a deep sadness in her heart. “Sweetheart, we’ll figure this out. But don’t make any rash decisions—”
Juliana turned around, cutting her off. “I didn’t come here for advice, Mum. I came here to tell you that I’ve left. And I don’t plan on going back.”
She finished her wine in one swift gulp, placed the glass down, and walked towards the front door.
Dan stood up quickly. “Juliana, wait—”
But before either of them could stop her, Juliana had already opened the door and stepped out into the morning light.
“Where are you going now?” Her mom's voice was wrapped with emotions.
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