I’ve been married to Masato for sixteen years, and together with our three kids—Yuma (13), Rei (10), and Taku (7)—we’d been living a lively, happy life. Then one day, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with a serious illness. Around the same time, I learned something shocking: Masato had an older brother who had been shut in for more than twenty years.
Masato and his mother talked as if they were the victims in all this. They even wanted to have a “family discussion” over the weekend, dragging our kids—who had no idea what was going on—into the mess. So that Friday night, I packed up the kids and drove to my parents’ house for safety.
That night, my parents welcomed us without hesitation. The next morning, I told them about my in-laws and the hidden brother. They were stunned to hear Masato wasn’t an only child after all. Still, seeing how shaken I was, they stayed calm and helped me think clearly. The kids, blissfully unaware, had a wonderful time visiting their grandparents. Masato had left dozens of missed calls on my phone, but once my father finally answered, he went completely quiet. I can’t trust him anymore. I don’t even know why I should stay.
I’ve decided I’m okay with divorce. My parents will be there with me when I sit down with Masato to talk—really talk—about what happens next.