That night, Travis walked in like he always did. He let out a breath. “I don’t know what to do. I didn’t sign up for two kids. I’m just saying… maybe this doesn’t have to be so complicated. You have options.”

I walked to the door and pulled it open. “Get out. Now.”

Travis left, slamming the door so hard the walls seemed to shake. I cried for everything—the man I thought loved me and the mother who had turned into a stranger.

I wrote a letter and drove to Linda’s house. My plan was simple—leave the letter and walk away. But when I opened the door, Travis was there, dragging a suitcase down the hall.

I walked straight past him and pulled the suitcase open. Right on top were two plane tickets. I grabbed them and held them up. “Plane tickets?” I said. “You’re running away.”

Travis rubbed his face. He looked tired. “I can’t deal with this anymore. Linda won’t stop talking about the baby. She keeps asking about names, nursery colors, everything. I feel trapped.”

Without saying anything, I ripped the tickets in half. I pulled out my phone. “Linda, your perfect man is standing here with a suitcase and a ticket out of your life.”

I said to Travis. “You’ll hear from my lawyer. You’re paying for both children. Whether you like it or not.”

As I drove home, the tight feeling in my chest began to fade. The pain was still there, but it wasn’t crushing me anymore. I didn’t know what kind of mother I would become. I had no plan, no clear answers. But I knew one thing for sure—I would never again let someone make me feel small or unworthy.