Joy didn’t make me cry. I cried over completion. I started off too weak to hold her.
My body hurt. My doctor was shocked during my postpartum checkup. “Elara, we chose a hospital birth.
What happened? “Soren happened,” I said. The boy and his mother had me do it.
This wasn’t wanted.”
She appeared upset. You’re lucky. This might have been dire.”
It hit me hard.
I risked something to please them. Back home, I addressed Soren. “You ruined this for me,” I cried.
I’ll never get that moment back. You made me afraid the whole time.”
Not even looking at me. Make a big fuss out of nothing.
Women are strong. You oughta handled it.”
Handled it?” I snapped. “If we ever have another kid—and I’m not sure I want that—it’s not happening at home!”
Shrugging.
“Talk about it later.”
The end. I was tired of him and his overbearing family treating me like garbage. A few months later, I pretended everything was fine.
I told Soren he might be correct. “I’ve been thinking… maybe home births are okay.”
He seemed arrogant. I smiled at family gatherings and listened to Maris’ birth stories.
But internally I was enraged. I planned. Our home?
It was mine before we married. I inherited it from my grandmother without fuss. Soren claimed it, but it was mine legally.
I would safeguard it. I saw a lawyer. I described the birth, pressure, and trauma.
His confirmation that the house was mine. He also believed my treatment warranted complete custody of Veda. I felt normal again after months.
A bad dinner when they talked about future kids like I was a baby factory made me decide. Next morning, as Soren drank coffee, I announced, “I’m leaving.”
He blinks. “Leaving where?”
“I leave you.
Maintain your customs. No more.”
Elara, this is our home. You cannot expel me.”
I took out legal documents.
Actually, it’s my residence. I consulted a lawyer. Keeping it.
I request Veda’s custody. You and your mom can’t control me anymore.”
He looked at the papers, horrified. “You’re kidding.”
“I’ve never been more serious,” I said.
You can pack and depart tomorrow. No more.”
I exited the room feeling lighter than ever. Control was mine.
I was free.
