Jack, my husband, was an artist, so good that the first painting he made of me made me fall in love with him. I, too, was a sucker for art. So when I met someone like Jack, who could draw even with his eyes closed, I felt that instant connection.
He was 28 and I was 25.
Apart from being a good artist, I knew of Jack's hunger for fame. He wanted to be famous and known far and wide for his art. He wanted his work to be in the weekly art magazine, on the news, in the world-renowned museum, and the mansions of rich and famous billionaires and world leaders. He wanted one of his paintings to be the next Monalisa.
But we had a problem: we weren't wealthy enough to market his paintings as we should have. We applied for loans and did all we could just to raise money to market Jack's paintings and provide him with the best painting equipment. I even had to work two jobs just to support him in his lifelong dream. While he painted more
Sadly, painting became an obsession for him. He painted day and night and barely had time for himself, me and our kids. Sometimes, he even forgets to shower before bed; he forgets to eat. All day he locked himself in the study and painted all day.
He gradually began to lose touch with himself and his family.
Whenever I asked out of worry for what he was gradually becoming and for fear that I was losing him, he'd only reply
"Babe, you have to trust me. This painting is going to be the next big thing. The next Monalisa".
I'll always nod and trust him. Besides, if I couldn't trust my husband, who else would I trust?
Little did I know that his ambition would be the end of something beautiful.
A few years later, Jack got the recognition he had always dreamt about. His latest creation became the new school Monalisa, he became famous and we swam in wealth. But one thing was lacking in our family. The love of a husband, father and friend.
Jack was always travelling the world and missed our kid's birthdays, our anniversary, and the birth of our last child. He wasn't even present when his mother took her last breath. And when I complain he'll yell back at me for trying to stop him from living his dream. It was all about him.
It felt like I was a single mother raising our kids alone.
I tried to endure but I couldn't any longer. I had no choice but to file for a divorce. Surprisingly Jack was devastated when he heard the news. Realising why his blind ambition had cost him, he tried turning a new leaf but it was too late. He finally had the fame he craved but he was lonely. I knew this from the look in his eyes whenever we met for our children's sake.
People say I acted too fast, but I was only putting the emotional well-being of my kids before me. They deserve to grow up in an environment where love thrives from both parents.
Tell me, what's an ambition without the people you love?
