Jean is a well educated professional with a decently-paid job. However, because of her shyness and plain apperance, when she was 36 years old, she did not have a boy friend yet.
Then, Jean met Mike. Mike was a widower with no child. He had just graduated from a university, and didn't find a job yet. Mike proposed to Jean. Jean was not sure that she loved Mike, but she got pregnant with Mike's child. Jean had no heart to abort the child, and she had no courage to raise it by herself. So she accepted Mike's proposal.
After they were married, they decided to buy a house. Mike had no savings, neither a job, and Jean put most of her savings into the down payment. They also got enough mortgage because of her high income.
The baby was born. It was a healthy boy, looking like Mike a lot. He was also an active boy, and kept Jean busy. Jean was tired, but happy.
Their new house was built. The moving was exhausting. At last, everything was settled.
Sitting in her living room, Jean looked around her house contently. She felt she had everything she wanted for her life: a lovely son, a gentle hu*****and, a nice house, and a good job.
Not long after the moving, Mike asked Jean, "My mom has never come to Canada. We now have a big house. I would like to invite her to live with us for a while. She can help you look after our son and do some house work. What do you think?" Jean thought it was a good idea.
Jean's mom had been living with Jean ever since Jean's dad passed away five years ago. She was then still living with Jean's family.
Now, Mike's mom arrived. Two old ladies in the same house could not get along. Mike complained to Jean, "My mom came all the way from China. I wanted her to be happy here. If your mom can not get along with my mom, I think we should get her another place to live temporarily." Jean didn't want to do that, but the conflicts between the two old ladies were getting worse. Jean gave in, and rented her mom an apartment.
After Jean's mom moved out, Mike turned to a totally differrent person. He was not gentle to Jean anymore. He lost his temper easily. He even swore to Jean.
One evening, he yielded to her,
"Disappear from this house. I don't want to see you any more."
"This is my home. Where do you want me to go?"
"Go to your mom's, your friend's, your sister's, wherever."
"I am not going anywhere. This is my home and my house."
"Can't you understand? I am fed up with you. If you stay any longer, I am going to lose my control, and may hurt you and your son."
"My son? He is your son too."
"Whatever, just disappear from the house. I can not stand you any more. Look like your long face feels like looking at a horse's face. How dump I was to marry you. I must have been blind. What a mistake I have made."
Jean was shocked and humiliated. She couldn't listen to him any longer. She grabbed some clothes, took her son, and left her home.
Jean and her son moved to her mom's place. She realized the marriage was a plot of Mike, and all he wanted was her money.
Jean knew little about family laws, and she worried a lot about her financial loss and her son's custody. She felt isolated too, because she was too ashamed to share her story with others. She began to have problem sleeping, and she was losing weight drastically.
Jean was devastated. Fortunately, she finally made the right choice to open herself to friends. Hearing her story, her friends offered her big supports, and found her a lot of resources to turn to. With the tremendous help from friends, community centers, and work place, she learned a lot about healthy relationships and family laws. She felt braver and stronger, and she was able to pull herself together again.
Among all the low moments, Jean's son was a joy to her. He was a happy boy. His bright smiles always cheered her up.
Despite a deteriorate marriage and the financial loss, Jean recovered. She knew she gained a lot too: a lovely son, friendship, knowledge, experience, wisdom, and courage. She knew Mike, or any other person like Mike, would not be able to hurt her or cheat on her any more
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