Sunlight poured into the room through the cracks in the curtains, and I sat at the dining table, holding a cup of tea that had already cooled in both hands, and staring vacantly at the old locust tree in the yard. Scenes from yesterday still linger in my mind.
"Xiuqin, please give me another chance!" Familiar and unfamiliar voices rang out outside the door, accompanied by a hurried knock.
My hands trembled slightly, and the tea spilled off the rim of the cup, leaving a dark mark on the tabletop.
"Get out! Do you still have a face? Daughter Xiaoyue's angry roar came, "Why didn't you think about a chance when you abandoned us back then?" ”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It's been ten years, a whole ten years have passed, I thought I had already let go, but why did my heart still tremble so violently?
"Sister, don't stop him......" his son's deep voice sounded, "Let me tell him." ”
I opened my eyes and stood up. The moment I opened the door, I knew that I was going to face a big decision in my life again.
Outside the door, my ex-husband He Yong knelt on the ground, his face full of tears, describing witheredness. Xiaoyue stood in front of me, her eyes burning with anger. Haoran stood aside, looking at all this with complicated eyes.
"Xiuqin......" He Yong raised his head and looked at me with burning eyes, "I know it's wrong, I really know it's wrong......"
I opened my mouth, only to find myself out of the way. Ten years came in like a tidal wave and drowned me. How should I deal with this man I once loved and hurt me deeply? How do I choose between hatred and pity?
At this moment, I felt as if I had returned to that summer, to the day when our marriage came to an end......
In the summer of 1998, I was 28 years old and He Yong had just turned 30. Our daughter Xiaoyue is 8 years old and our son Haoran is 5 years old.
"Xiuqin, I'm going out to work." He Yong stood in the courtyard, carrying a worn-out duffel bag.
I hugged Haoran, and Xiaoyue hid behind me, looking timidly at her father. "Yong, are you really leaving? Can you wait any longer? Haoran is still young, we ......"
He Yong interrupted me: "I can't wait. The family relies on those few acres of land all year round, how can it be enough to feed the family? Besides, your mother-in-law is not in good health, so someone has to take care of her. Isn't it nice that you take care of the children and the elderly at home, and I go out to make money? ”
I opened my mouth, but in the end I didn't say anything. I know, he has a point. But why is there always a sense of uneasiness in my heart?
"Dad, when are you coming back?" Xiaoyue asked timidly.
He Yong squatted down and touched his daughter's head: "Dad will come back once a year." When Dad makes enough money, I'll take you to live in the city, okay? ”
Xiaoyue nodded, tears glistening in her eyes.
In this way, He Yong embarked on the road of going out to work. At first, he would send money back every month and call to say hello. But as time went on, he went home less and less often, and made fewer phone calls.
Ten years on, our lives still haven't changed much. I am still in the countryside, taking care of my children and mother-in-law, barely supporting the family.
At the beginning of 2014, my mother-in-law passed away. I thought He Yong would come back, but he just made a phone call and said that he couldn't leave for work. I held back my tears and handled my mother-in-law's funeral alone.
Not long after the mother-in-law left, He Yong suddenly returned. I thought he was coming back to see us, but I didn't expect him to say he wanted a divorce.
"Xiuqin, over the years, we have gathered less and left more, and our relationship has long faded. We... Let's get a divorce. He Yong lowered his head, not daring to look into my eyes.
I was struck by lightning and trembled: "Yong, you... What did you say? We are husband and wife, how can you ......"
"There's someone outside me." He suddenly raised his head, his eyes determined, "I want to marry her." ”
I felt like the world was spinning and I almost fainted. The surrounding neighbors came to persuade him, but He Yong had already made up his mind. Finally, in the midst of a sigh, we went through the divorce procedures. My daughter Xiaoyue was raised by me, and my son Haoran followed him.
After returning to my parents' house with Xiaoyue, I felt like I had lost my soul. Thanks to the help of my brother and sister-in-law, I slowly cheered up. I opened a small restaurant and worked hard to give Xiaoyue a better future.
"Mom, I'm admitted to college!" In the summer of 2008, Xiaoyue excitedly rushed into the hotel and handed me the admission letter.
I hugged my daughter so tightly that tears flowed uncontrollably. My efforts have finally paid off, and my daughter will not repeat my mistakes.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Xiaoyue has graduated from college and found a good job in the city. My life is also gradually on the right track, although I am not rich, but I also have no worries about food and clothing.
However, just three months ago, my peaceful life was shattered.
That day, I was busy in the hotel when I suddenly heard someone shouting, "Xiuqin! Xiuqin! ”
I looked up and almost dropped the plate in my hand to the ground. Standing at the door, it turned out to be He Yong. It's just that at this moment, how can he still be as high-spirited as he was back then? His hair is gray, his face is withered, and his body is rickety.
"Xiuqin, I... I know wrong. He stepped forward, his voice choked, "I've always regretted it all these years. Can I ......"
I took a step back and looked at him coldly: "He Yong, what are you doing here?" ”
He knelt down and burst into tears: "Xiuqin, please forgive me." Give me a chance to be your husband again, to be the father of Xiaoyue and Haoran......"
I looked at him in amazement, not knowing how to react for a moment. Just then, Xiaoyue rushed in from outside.
"You still have the face to see my mother?" Xiaoyue glared at He Yong angrily, "When you abandoned us back then, why didn't you think about asking for a chance?" ”
He Yong lowered his head and kept apologizing. Xiaoyue turned around and whispered to me, "Mom, he's both unemployed and sick now, and he was abandoned by that woman. He's trying to get you to clean up the mess. ”
I was shocked, and the eyes I looked at He Yong became complicated.
At this moment, Haoran also came. He stood in the doorway, watching the scene with complicated eyes.
"Dad, why are you here?" Haoran's voice trembled a little.
He Yong turned around, his eyes full of hope: "Haoran, Dad knows it's wrong." Can you help Dad talk and get your mom to forgive Daddy......"
Haoran was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his head, tears flashing in his eyes: "Dad, do you know how I came over all these years?" After you took me away, you left me with that woman, and I was drunk and dreamed of all day. I've had a lot of white eyes and bullying, you know? ”
He Yong was stunned, with a painful expression on his face: "Haoran, Dad......"
"Don't call me Haoran!" Haoran suddenly raised his voice, "You don't deserve to be my father at all!" Over the years, if my mother and sister hadn't secretly helped me, I would have been living on the streets! ”
Xiaoyue and I both looked at Haoran in surprise. It turns out that he has experienced so many ...... over the years
He Yong knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry...... I really know it's wrong......"
I took a deep breath, looked at He Yong and said, "He Yong, over the years, I have pulled Xiaoyue alone and experienced too many hardships. When you abandoned us, did you think about how we felt? Now that you're in trouble and want to come back? It's so easy to start all over again. ”
Xiaoyue took my hand and said firmly, "Mom, you did the right thing. He doesn't deserve your forgiveness. ”
Haoran walked up to me and hugged me gently: "Mom, I'm sorry, I haven't been able to be by your side all these years." But from now on, I will be filial to you. ”
I looked at the scene in front of me, and my heart was like a knife. What a happy family we used to be, but now, it's like this.
Taking a deep breath, I made up my mind: "He Yong, I'm sorry, I can't accept you. The past is gone, and we should all look forward. You should also be responsible for your own choices. ”
He Yong closed his eyes in pain, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Xiaoyue said coldly, "Dad, let's go." You betray your marriage first, and you abandon your wife and children later. That's the price you should pay. ”
Haoran also spoke: "Dad, I forgive you, but I won't recognize you as a father anymore." Take care of yourself. ”
He Yong stood up tremblingly, his eyes full of despair: "Xiuqin, children, is there really no chance?" ”
I shook my head: "He Yong, I hope you can do it well and start your life again." We... Say goodbye. ”
Looking at He Yong's staggering back, my heart was full of mixed feelings. Once, I thought he was my life's support, but fate gave us a big mockery.
Xiaoyue put her arm around my shoulder: "Mom, don't be sad. Don't we still have each other? ”
Haoran held my hand: "Mom, from now on, I will always be by your side." ”
I wiped tears from the corners of my eyes and smiled with relief: "yes, we still have each other." ”
Looking back on this life, I have experienced too much suffering and betrayal. But I don't regret it, because these experiences have made me stronger and made me cherish the happiness in front of me even more.
Perhaps, that's how life is. We can't choose where we come from, we can't predict what the future will bring, but we can choose how to face adversity and how to cherish the present.
Looking at Xiaoyue and Haoran, I know that my life is not perfect, but it is worth it. Because I have these two wonderful children, with their love and support.
As the sun set, the three of us stood side by side in front of the small restaurant. I know that no matter what storms lie ahead, we will all get through it together. Because we are family, we have each other.
This experience taught me that true happiness does not lie in the good past, but in cherishing every moment of the present. We can't change the past, but we can create a better future. He Yong's betrayal once made me feel painful, but it also made me cherish the happiness in front of me even more.
I looked at Xiaoyue and Haoran, and my heart was full of gratitude and hope. I know that the three of us together will definitely create a happy life that belongs to us.