When Sophie’s children expressed their desire that she did not exist, the things they spoke impacted her more deeply than any grief she had ever experienced. They did not grasp the significance of their statements since they were angry and irresponsible. In order to fulfill their desire, Sophie made the decision to completely disappear from their lives without leaving a trace. The time has come for them to take a look at what their lives would be like without her.
It was commonly believed that being a housewife was a simple job, consisting of remaining at home, unwinding, and subsisting off of the labor of one’s spouse. What an erroneous perspective!
Sophie found that being a stay-at-home mother was not an easy chore; rather, it was a never-ending marathon that did not allow for any breaks. Her days were filled with a fog of tasks, including cleaning, cooking, calming tantrums, and handling a multitude of other obligations.
Liam, her vivacious but stubborn five-year-old son, was at an age where every little thing provoked a struggle. He was fighting over everything.
Clara, who was getting close to her pre-teen years, was full of attitude and had moods that were difficult to predict.
Then there is her husband, Nathan. His wage, he believed, absolved him of responsibility for the home chores. It wore me out completely.
The following evening, as was customary, they got together for dinner. The act of sharing their day was a routine that was frequently punctuated by unexpected occurrences.
Sophie turned her attention to Liam, who was gently prodding his peas. With an attempt to seem upbeat, she inquired, “Liam, how was your preschool experience today?”
He made a shrugs. It went off without a hitch, although Miss Carter might give you a call tomorrow.
Having been caught off guard by that. Why would she bother to call? As she put her fork down, Sophie posed the question.
“I wanted to pet a dog outside, but Miss Carter told me that you shouldn’t touch stray dogs because they might have rab—rab—,” I remarked and then I went back inside. Liam couldn’t find the right word, so he frowned.
As Clara interrupted, she rolled her eyes dramatically and said, “Rabies.”
Liam gave a slight nod. That’s right, rabies.
“And on top of that, why would she think to call me?” She exerted pressure.
Liam paused for a moment until he suddenly blurted out, “I didn’t like what she said, so I bit her.”
Sophie gazed, completely taken aback. Were you biting your instructor? Unintentionally, her voice lifted in pitch.
Unfazed, Liam gave a little nod. “She stated that bites are the source of rabies. It was my intention to demonstrate to her.”
Clara murmured, “Mom, you brought up a wild animal,” while sneering at her mother.
There was a scathing remark made by Sophie, “Don’t talk about your brother in such a manner.” She switched her attention to Nathan, who was concentrating on his meal. I was wondering if you had anything to say, Nathan.
He cast a fleeting peek upward. He gave her hand a short pat and then remarked, “You’re doing great, babe,” as he spoke to her.
When Sophie turned back to Liam, she let out a sigh. “Liam, we have already discussed this. One cannot bite another person. It is not only painful but also inappropriate. If you want to convey yourself the next time, use words.
First, she confronted Clara. “What was your day like?”
“I’m fine,” Clara answered, scarcely looking up from her seat.
“Then that’s it?” Sophie inquired about it.
Please don’t forget that I’ll be staying at Mia’s place tomorrow. She added in a nonchalant manner.
Sophie responded, “Yes, I remember,” as she felt her vitality beginning to dwindle.
A terrible start to the following day proceeded to a downward spiral. It appeared as though a hurricane had struck when Sophie checked Liam’s room, which she had expected to be tidy because she had requested for it to be.
All around the place, there were books, clothes, and toys strewn about. Even though her tolerance was wearing thin, there was no time to address the issue.
Because of Liam’s bite, she was forced to apologize to Miss Carter, which was an embarrassing situation.
A moment later, when she had finally taken a seat to gather her breath, the phone began to ring. Clara’s school informed them that she had not attended any of her classes. Frustration reached a boiling point for Sophie. When the children arrived at their house, she was prepared to have a serious discussion with them.
As Liam and Clara were making their way to their own rooms, Sophie yelled out to both of them, “Stop right there.” It was her tone that brought them to a complete halt.
“What should we do now?” When Clara asked, she sounded irritated.
Sophie said, “Let’s begin with you, Liam,” and she meant it. I am aware of your room. It is a complete disaster. We came to an agreement that I would take your games if you did not keep it clean. Your console is mine until you demonstrate that you are capable of keeping it organized.
Liam’s eyes grew more wide. “What is it? In no manner! “That is not fair!” he yelled while folding his arms over his chest.
Clara gave a sly grin. In a sarcastic tone, she remarked, “Good one, Liam.”
Clara, Sophie snapped, “I wouldn’t laugh at you right now.” “The phone rang at your school. Because you skipped class.”
“It was only the one time!” Clara let out a stern cry, her cheeks turning red with rage.
Sophie responded in a strong tone, “You will be grounded for a week.” The phrase “no sleepover at Mia’s”
“You are not capable of doing this! This has been in my mind for a very long time! Clara yelled while clenching her fists.
After that, Sophie said in a composed manner, “Then you shouldn’t have skipped class.”
I abhor you all! Oh, how I wish you did not exist! Clara yelled as she rushed to her room and slammed the door shut behind her face.
“That’s right! Equally so! While he was running to his own room, Liam yelled.
Sophie remained standing there, her eyes welling up with tears. She swallowed the lump that was in her throat, despite the fact that her chest felt heavy.
She recalled the events of the day when Nathan arrived home. His response was hardly audible as he listened carefully.
“Well?” she inquired, hoping to receive some support.
As he shrugged his shoulders, he replied, “Perhaps you were too harsh on them.” “Their age is insignificant.”
“Have you listened to what Clara had to say to me?” Sophie inquired, her voice shaking with the frustration she was feeling.
Nathan responded with a contemptuous dismissal, “She didn’t mean it.”
“I’ve had enough,” Sophie replied with a chilly tone in her voice. “I will demonstrate to them what it is like to be without me.”
“What exactly do you mean?” Nathan inquired, perplexed by the question.
After she had walked away, she said, “You’ll see.”
In the evening, when the house was quiet, Sophie started working on her plan. Nathan, a person who sleeps a lot, did not wake up.
With complete silence, she strolled around the room, gathering everything that belonged to her, including clothes from the closet, photographs from the walls, and notebooks from the desk.
Each and every one of her morning mugs was placed inside of a box. She was completely absent from the scene.
After she had finished packing everything, she brought it up to the attic. Her refuge consisted of a mattress, a little lamp, and a blanket, and it was used to conceal her in the confined and dusty space. Nathan seldom noticed the existence of the attic, so he wouldn’t even consider looking in this direction.
In order to observe how they managed to function without her presence, she installed cameras in the kitchen and the living room before she moved in. At this point, we had only begun.
Sophie viewed the video stream the following morning as she and her companions stood in the kitchen, appearing to be disoriented.
“And where is Mom?” A question was posed by Liam, his tone unsure.
As she looked around the room, Clara concluded, “I don’t know.” “Even her photographs have been missing. The ones that are shown on the wall as well.”
Nathan continued, “Her clothes aren’t in the closet,” while scratching his head in apparent confusion.
The pupils in Liam’s eyes widened. Were our hopes and dreams granted? “Did Mom really vanish so suddenly?”
Nathan commanded, “Don’t be such an idiot,” while shaking his head.
“However, she has vanished!” Insisted Clara on it. “Her belongings are not in this location. It appears that she has vanished.
Nathan proceeded to take out his phone. I’ll give her a call. In all likelihood, a joke.” However, Sophie had already shut off her phone. After staring at the screen for a moment, he tucked it away.
His tone was annoyed as he said, “Okay, let’s go.” I’ll walk you to school,” she said. It will be later when we find this out.
Clara was hesitant. “Is it possible for me to attend Mia’s sleepover?”
Yes, that’s OK. Nathan pleaded with a sense of impatience, “Just get in the car.”
Oh, yes! Clara then smiled after she had cheered. It’s possible that this is the best option. “Mom was always looking out for me.”
This means that I will be able to play video games! Lying on his back, Liam yelled.
While she watched, Sophie felt a tightening in her chest. She was not missed by them; rather, they appeared relieved. They were relieved that she had to leave.
On that particular evening, the camera captured Nathan and Liam both laughing and playing video games while sitting on the couch.
On the coffee table, there was a pizza box that was open, and grease spots were spreading.
While Liam was munching a cheesy slice, Sophie observed him. A knot formed in her stomach. He was unable to tolerate lactose. Nathan, who was completely absorbed in the game, had obviously forgotten.
Her concerns were validated the following morning. A pallid and whimpering Liam was curled up on the couch in a fetal position.
Nathan was grumbling to himself as he scrambled about for the pills. He left his job and stayed at home, where he attempted to console Liam while also cleaning up the mess.
As of the third day, anarchy had taken over. The dishes were piled up, the laundry was left unfinished, and the children went to school with just dry cereal in their backpacks.
In the evening, Liam was overcome with emotion and sat on the couch, crying. Even Clara, who is always unbothered by the situation, appeared defeated as she clutched her empty lunchbox while her hair was a tangle.
According to Liam, who was glancing at Nathan, “I miss Mom.” The tears were streaming down his cheeks, and his lip was shaking.
While Clara continued to stare at her hands, she whispered, “Me too.” It was today that I got my period, and I was at a loss for what to do. I had a strong desire to phone Mom, but I was unable to do so. It was a terrible experience.”
Nathan let out a sigh and leaned back. “I believe that this is due to the fact that you mentioned it. You expressed your desire to you that she did not exist. She is modeling for you what it is like to feel that way.
“That in no way is true!” Clara uttered the words, her voice cracking. There was a flood of tears. “I was just in a rage. It was not my intention. That is such a foolish thing for me to say.
There was a sniffle from Liam. “I want my mother to come back. Each and every day, I will clean my room. It’s the last time I’ll bite anyone. I solemnly swear.”
The face of Clara was wiped. “I’m going to quit yelling at her. I will pay closer attention. I am unable to function without her. “She cried out in tears, “I miss her so badly.”
The words they spoke destroyed Sophie’s determination. As she emerged from the darkness, she stood in the threshold of the entrance. She spoke with a tone that was stern but emotional, saying, “I hope you’ve learned your lesson today.”
They whirled around, stunned, and then hurried into her clutches. “Mom! ” “You’re back!” they said, embracing her in a tight embrace.
When Nathan arrived, he greeted you by saying, “It’s so good to see you.” In the past few days, I have witnessed firsthand what an outstanding job you do. Starting immediately, I will make an effort to simplify things for you.
“Thank you,” Sophie whispered in a low voice.
The response that Nathan gave was, “No, thank you for everything.”
You are so kind, Mom! The children clung to one other tightly and exclaimed, “We love you so much!”
