Stella adored her life with Zack and their children, but regular bouts of illness following family dinners prompted serious concerns.
I am Stella, a 32-year-old wife and mother. My life has been a whirlwind since I met Zack, my rock and confidant. We’ve been married for seven years and have two gorgeous children, Dylan and Faith. Our family is imperfect, but we have always managed to navigate the ups and downs together.
Cynthia, Zack’s mother, has never approved of me. She’d say things like, “Zack deserves so much more than what you’re offering,” and only act sweetly around Zack. Every month during Cynthia’s family dinners, I would get sick with stomach aches, nausea, and terrible diarrhea. Zack rejected my concerns, adding, “Mom’s just old-fashioned. She doesn’t mean any harm.”
For proof of my thoughts, I swapped plates with Zack for Cynthia’s birthday dinner. Zack immediately became ill, grumbling, “I think I’m coming down with something.” When I disclosed the plate switch, Zack claimed I had poisoned him. “You’ve gone too far, Stella. This is insane,” he snapped. I replied, “I had to do it, Zack. She’s been making me sick for months, and you never believed me.”
I took our children and fled, unable to take Zack’s wrath and disbelief. Despite the suffering, I felt confident that I was protecting myself and my children. I promised Dylan and Faith, “I’ll always be here for you.”