I need Help. Torn Between my son and boyfriend.

Dear Angela

The dust swirled around my ankles, mirroring the turmoil inside. The old wooden signpost at the crossroads stood silent, its paint peeling, its arrows pointing in opposite directions. One, etched with 'Love,' the other, 'Family.' My heart ached, a symphony of conflicting desires.

For years, I'd been a solitary island, raising my son, Liam, in the wake of my husband's untimely death. Liam was my world, my everything, but lately, my world had expanded, tentatively, cautiously, opening its borders to Michael.

He was a gentle giant, with a kind heart and a smile that could melt glaciers. He'd been a beacon of light in my darkest hour, a friend who had become so much more. He wanted to be a part of Liam's life, to be a father figure, a steady hand in our shaky world. And I, I loved him with an intensity I hadn't known possible.

But the thought of leaving Liam, of him being uprooted from his life, from his routine, ripped at my soul. Could I, in good conscience, expose him to the pain of another loss, another broken promise?

I shut my eyes, picturing Liam's face. His eyes, reflecting the same confusion I felt. He'd grown to love Michael too, to see him as a father he'd never had, but the thought of leaving his room, his friends, his school, was enough to make his face crumple.

I felt a tear trace a path down my cheek. Was I being selfish, holding onto a past that was fading, for fear of hurting someone I loved? Or was I protecting him from the pain I knew too well?

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence. It was Liam, his eyes wide with concern. 'Mom, are you okay?'

I drew him into a hug, his small frame fitting perfectly against mine. 'I'm just trying to figure something out,' I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

He looked up, his brow furrowed. 'What's wrong? Do you not love Michael anymore?'

I pulled back, meeting his gaze. 'Oh honey, that's not it at all. It's just, I love you both, and I don't want to hurt either one of you.'

The weight of my words hung in the air. Liam, with the wisdom beyond his years, understood. He took my hand, his touch small but firm.

'I love Michael too, Mom,' he said quietly. 'He makes you happy.'

His words hit me like a tidal wave. He was right. Michael brought laughter back into my life, a light I hadn't seen in years.

'It's just… about change,' I stammered. 'I don't want to disrupt your life… your routine.'

Liam squeezed my hand, his eyes shining with understanding. 'But Mom, maybe change isn't always bad. Maybe it's just... different.'

His words echoed in my mind, a gentle nudge towards the unknown. He wasn't asking me to abandon him, he was asking me to embrace the possibilities, to be open to a new beginning, yet Michael did not want me to move in with my son. He wanted me to take Liam to his paternal grandparents whom I did not have quite an understanding. I love Michael yet I do not want to give up my son.

Please help me, what should I do, should I give up my son or Michael?

• Change Image

  Send son to the grandparents and start life with Michael.
• Change Image

  Leave Michael and keep your son.