It has been nearly three years since my marriage. After we were married, my husband and I shared a three-story home on the outskirts of the city with his mother because he is an only child.
Rosa, my mother-in-law, recently reached fifty, which is a suitable age for her to be content and enjoy life with her kids and grandkids.
However, her childlike and oddly eccentric character left the entire family “walking on tightropes.”
Her appearance was crucial to her. She took an hour each day to take care of her skin, use face masks, and apply cosmetics.
She had to wear high heels, a curly wig, perfume, and a dress whenever she went out, even to the local market.
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She introduced us to a man who was just twenty-eight years old. Hugo was his name, and although he appeared well and spoke politely, it was immediately apparent that he lacked stable work.
She became enraged and said something that left everyone stunned: “I’ve sacrificed my entire life for my husband and children; now I want to live for myself.” My husband, Carlos, strongly opposed it.
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Despite his anger, my spouse reluctantly consented because he didn’t want to start a fight.
I felt an odd restlessness that I couldn’t explain, which began on the day of my mother-in-law’s wedding. My mother-in-law and “Uncle Hugo” moved into her room following the wedding.
Oddly, the two of them remained in the room for a full week. I had to knock on the door to call them at every meal, but all I got in return was the reply, “Leave it there, daughter, I’ll eat it later.” I became concerned.
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I was astonished by the scene in front of me. The curtains were drawn, and the room was dark. The moldy scent of the air was oppressive, as though it hadn’t been breathed in a long time. My mother-in-law was unconscious in bed, her eyes sunken, her face pale, and her mouth dry.
Additionally, her young spouse, Hugo, was not present. I called out to my hubby. Both of us hurried her to the hospital.
According to test results, she was physically weak, fatigued, and extremely dehydrated. “The family should pay more attention,” the doctor continued. It’s quite risky for the sufferer to go days without eating or drinking anything. Moreover, what became of Hugo? He had vanished into thin air. Trembling, my husband grabbed his mother’s phone and looked up her financial activities. Three days after the wedding, the roughly 800,000 peso savings account had been depleted. She had also lost all of the wedding gold she had stored in the safe.
After spending two days in critical care, my mother-in-law finally woke up. She simply glanced at the ceiling without saying anything. Her formerly self-assured, haughty eyes were now filled with remorse and emptiness. I softly inquired, “Why did you let him take all the money and leave?” while holding her hand. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pursed her lips: “I knew it. He didn’t love me, and I knew it. However, I reasoned that he wouldn’t be able to cheat on me in that way if I loved and cared for him sufficiently. I couldn’t speak. Nobody held it against her, yet nobody could take the grief for her.
My mother-in-law had a radical transformation after that day. She stopped wearing cosmetics and stopped entertaining herself with love songs and selfies.
She started to spend more time with her grandson and became more composed and methodical. When her grandson said, “Grandma, tell me a story,” I once witnessed her covertly wiping away her tears. The tale of my mother-in-law serves as a moving reminder that while love has no age boundaries, you put your pride and health at risk when you choose the wrong person.
Sometimes the cost is not monetary but rather the years you have left to live with regret.
