“I’m Leaving,” She Said Flatly: “She Won’t Let Us Live in Peace”

Linda sat at the head of the dining table, her eyes cold and unyielding. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. Her son, Michael, sat across from her, his face a mask of discomfort. Next to him, his wife, Emily, fidgeted nervously with her napkin.

“I’m leaving,” Linda said flatly, her voice devoid of emotion. “She won’t let us live in peace.”

Emily’s face turned a deep shade of red. She stood up abruptly, knocking over her chair in the process. Without a word, she fled from the room, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Michael watched her go, his heart sinking. He turned back to his mother, who was now glaring at him with a mixture of disdain and disappointment.

“Where did you find that unattractive girl?” Linda spat out, her eyes narrowing. “Under what rock did you dig her up?”

“Mom, she’s not unattractive,” Michael protested weakly. “She’s my wife.”

Linda scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Your wife? She’s a disgrace to this family. Look at her! She can’t even handle a simple dinner without running off like a child.”

Michael clenched his fists under the table, trying to keep his temper in check. “Mom, you don’t understand. Emily is a wonderful person. She’s kind, intelligent, and she loves me.”

“Love?” Linda sneered. “What does she know about love? She’s nothing but a burden. She’ll drag you down with her mediocrity.”

Michael felt a surge of anger rise within him. “That’s enough, Mom. You don’t get to talk about Emily like that.”

Linda’s eyes flashed with fury. “Oh, I don’t, do I? Well, let me tell you something, Michael. As long as I’m alive, I will never accept that woman as part of this family.”

Michael stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. “Then maybe it’s time for us to leave,” he said quietly.

Linda’s face twisted in rage. “Leave? You would choose her over your own mother?”

Michael took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “Yes, Mom. I would.”

Linda’s eyes filled with tears of anger and betrayal. “Fine,” she said through gritted teeth. “Go ahead and leave. But don’t expect me to welcome you back with open arms when she inevitably ruins your life.”

Michael turned away from his mother, his heart heavy with sorrow. He walked down the hallway to find Emily sitting on the edge of their bed, her face buried in her hands.

“Emily,” he said softly, sitting down next to her.

She looked up at him, her eyes red and swollen from crying. “I’m sorry, Michael,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to cause all this trouble.”

Michael wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “It’s not your fault,” he murmured. “My mom… she’s just set in her ways.”

Emily sniffled, leaning into his embrace. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”

Michael kissed the top of her head, feeling a pang of guilt. “We’ll figure it out,” he promised. “We’ll find a way to make this work.”

But deep down, he knew that their path ahead would be fraught with challenges and heartache. The rift between his mother and his wife seemed insurmountable, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that their love might not be enough to bridge the gap.

As they sat there in silence, holding onto each other for dear life, Michael couldn’t help but wonder if they were fighting a losing battle.