After nineteen years of marriage and raising two children, my husband left me for a young colleague.
I’m 42, and two weeks ago, my world fell apart: my husband, with whom I had spent 19 years and raised two kids, announced he wanted a divorce. He confessed he had been in a relationship for the past two years with a 28-year-old colleague who is now expecting his child.
Since then, I haven’t stopped crying, tormented by the question: how could I have been so blind not to see his betrayal? I trusted Mark when he said he was working late due to new projects and frequent business trips across the country. I was at home, tidying up, cooking his favorite meals, and ironing shirts for the week ahead. I never suspected that all this care was not just for me and the children.
It worried me that Mark was spending less time with the kids, distancing himself from family traditions. His financial contribution to the family budget diminished, and he wasn’t part of solving household issues. I justified it with his busy schedule and tiredness. When he told me he couldn’t join us on holiday this year, I accepted it and went with the kids to my parents’ home in the countryside. Coming back, I noticed Mark had changed: he became withdrawn, avoided closeness, and once, I caught the scent of unfamiliar perfume and saw lipstick marks on his shirt collar.
When I demanded an explanation, he admitted to the affair and said he intended to leave. My attempts to remind him of the children, of the years we spent together, didn’t change his mind. We consulted a solicitor to proceed with the divorce. I didn’t want to let him go, couldn’t envision life without him, but I realized that holding on was pointless.
Now I am alone, with a broken heart and a fear of the future. I understand that a long journey of healing awaits, but I hope I can find the strength to move forward for myself and our children.
