Living Without a Mom ~ Chapter 10: Heartbreak

I was listening to the song 'Goodbye' by Avril Lavigne whilst writing this chapter. Listen to it too whilst reading if you want. It relates in a way.

It was decided that the baby would be called Sam.

Opal held her son out whilst staring into his dark eyes. She sighed. She still wasn't too sure about having to be a mother.

Putting Sam into his cot, Opal retreated to the kitchen table, grabbing a pen and paper on her way.

After she'd written the letter, she tearfully stuck it up on the notice board by the front door before taking Sam back out of his cot and holding him close to her.

'Goodbye son, I love you.' she whispered, tears starting to fall from her face. Lying him back down, she planted a kiss on his forehead before walking out the front door, not looking back.

A couple of hours later, Leighton returned home from work to hear the sound of his son crying. His mother would still be out at her book club meeting, but surely Opal must be sorting Sam out. Opening the nursery door, Leighton saw that his son was the only one in there. His face was red with tears. Leighton dropped everything and rushed over to Sam, holding him close.

'It's okay son, daddy's here now. Please don't cry.' he reassured.

Now, where on earth was Opal? Leighton checked the bedroom to see if she'd simply fallen asleep or not, but she wasn't in there. As he let out a call for her name, he came across the letter on the notice board that was addressed to him. Heart thumping like crazy, he made his way to the sofa and sat down, Sam still in his arms. He opened the letter and began to read it,

Dear Leighton

So, this may seem totally out of the blue, but this will probably be the last time you'll ever hear from me. I just can't cope with the pressure of being a mom. Like, we're still only eighteen! Yes, I do feel awful whilst writing this, and no doubt that I will have my regrets afterwards. But I have to leave. You have every right to hate me for this, I don't blame you. As for where I shall stay, it'll probably be a place in either Hidden Springs or Moonlight Falls. Bring Sam up well, make sure that he doesn't end up on the wrong side of life. I know that you'll be able to find love again, I mean, look at that face! It makes any girl go crazy! As for me, no need to worry. I'll be fine. But remember this, I will always love you. Don't blame any of this on yourself, it's my own silly fault. Well, I guess this is goodbye. These last few years have been some of the best in my life.

Lots of love forever and always,

Opal xoxoxo

Leighton couldn't believe what he had just read. Surely it must just be a sick practical joke of some sort? Opal can't just walk out on him! He can't be a single father!

But Opal wouldn't be the kind of person to write a letter like that as a joke. She really did mean it. She wasn't coming back. She'd left him.

Leighton quickly put Sam back in his cot before running out of the door and down the street, crying out with heartbreak. He held the letter in his hand at arms length before ripping it up into a million pieces. The tiny shreds of paper went blowing out into the air as Leighton finally started to break down in tears. Some of the neighbours were looking out of their windows, looking slightly concerned.

'Hey sir, are you alright?'

Leighton tearfully looked up from his hands to see Lolita Goth and Jessica Bachelor staring at him.

'No! My love has left!' he cried. Lolita walked over and patted him on the shoulder. She didn't understand, she was only seven years old.

'Where is she? Jess and I can help you find her!'

'She's gone forever! She isn't coming back!'

Before Lolita or Jessica could say any more, Leighton ran indoors again. He actually had plans to propose to Opal, but she left before he could.

When Yumi finally returned home after her extremely long book club meeting, she found her son lying flat out on his bed and her grandson fast asleep beside him.

'Leighton?' she said softly.

'Go away.' he groaned.

'No. What's wrong? It's not every day that you're like this.'

'She's gone, mom. Opal's left.'

'And what do you mean by that?'

'She wrote me a letter saying that she couldn't cope with motherhood, but that she still loves Sam and I. She said that she'd try and find a place in either Hidden Springs or Moonlight falls.'

'Where is that letter now?'

'I tore it apart. Mom, she's gone!'

Tears then started to fall from Leighton's face again and Yumi started to treat him like a child again, letting him sob into her shoulder whilst she held him close. Sam remained asleep.

'It's alright son, I'm here now. I'll help you look after Sam whilst you sort yourself out and work towards that athletic job that you always wanted.' she reassured.

'Thanks mom. But what are we going to tell Sam when he's old enough?'

'We'll say that she died not long after he was born. It'll be for the best, Leighton. I promise.'

Yeah. I actually came up with an idea so this story will be a few more chapters longer than I'd first thought. So it turns out that Opal didn't die at all, she did a runner. I really want to give Leighton a hug, aw.