I don’t know if this is normal—my husband’s ex-wife is making my life miserable.
In a small town near Manchester, where gossip spreads like wildfire, my life, which began with love, is now filled with anxiety and uncertainty. My name is Emily, I’m 29, and I married James, a man who had been married before. We have a son together, Oliver, and everything seemed perfect. But the shadow of his ex-wife, living in the same town, poisons my happiness. I don’t know if what’s happening is normal, or if I’m losing my mind.
Love with Baggage
James won me over with his kindness and confidence. He’s ten years older than me, and his life experience felt like a rock I could lean on. When we met, he had been divorced for three years. His first marriage to Sarah lasted seven years—no children. James told me they split because she cheated, and I believed him. We got married two years ago, and soon after, Oliver was born—our little angel. I thought the past was behind us. I was wrong.
Sarah lives in our town, and her presence is everywhere. She works at the local café, shops at the same supermarket, and seems to know everything about our lives. I’ve caught her staring at me with contempt when we accidentally cross paths. At first, I brushed it off, but then things started happening that made me question my sanity.
The Shadow of the Past
It began with small things. Someone wrote in chalk on our front gate: “Give him back.” I wiped it away, not saying a word to James, but my stomach twisted. Then anonymous messages started appearing on my social media: “You took my place,” “He’ll come back to me eventually.” I blocked them, but the fear grew. One day, I found an old photo of James and Sarah slipped under our door—smiling, arms around each other. When I asked James, he just shrugged. “She’s probably lonely. Don’t let it bother you.” But how could I not, when her shadow loomed over everything?
The worst moment came last month. I was pushing Oliver on the swings at the park when Sarah walked up to me. She smiled, but her words were venom: “You think he’s yours? He still calls me at night.” I froze. She walked away, and I stood there, numb. At home, I confronted James. He swore he hadn’t spoken to her, that she was lying to tear us apart. I want to believe him, but doubt gnaws at me. What if she’s telling the truth? What if he still loves her?
A Family Under Siege
My life has become paranoia. I check James’s phone while he sleeps, watch his reaction when we pass the café where Sarah works. I hate myself for it, but I can’t stop. Oliver is my joy, but even his laughter can’t drown out the fear that our family might collapse. My mum, seeing how I’ve been, says, “Emily, walk away. A man with that kind of past is trouble.” But I love James. He’s a good father, a devoted husband—yet his past feels like a ticking bomb.
I tried talking to Sarah. I sent her a message, begging her to leave us alone. She replied: “You don’t know who you’re dealing with. He’ll always be mine.” Her words fester in my mind like poison. Is she lying? Her confidence terrifies me. Why won’t she let go? Why does she keep tormenting us? And why does James act like none of this matters?
My Inner Turmoil
I don’t know if this is normal. Maybe I’m overreacting. Maybe an ex-wife just can’t move on and will eventually fade away. Or do I dig deeper to uncover the truth? I’m scared of what I might find—proof that could shatter my family. But I can’t keep living like this. My friends say, “Ignore her, she’s just jealous.” But how can I, when her shadow lurks in every corner of my life?
James tries to reassure me: “Emily, I’m with you. I love you.” But his words ring hollow lately. I see him avoiding conversations about Sarah, changing the subject when I bring her up. Is he hiding something, or just tired of the drama? I don’t want to be the wife who obsesses over his past, but I refuse to be the fool who’s played for one.
What Now?
This is my cry for help. I don’t know how to live with this. Do I leave James? Do I confront Sarah? Do I push him for honesty, even if it breaks us? I want to protect Oliver, our family, myself. But how, when I can’t tell truth from lies? At 29, I dreamed of a happy life—now I feel trapped in a thriller where the villain is a ghost from the past.
I don’t know if any of this is normal. But I do know I can’t keep living in fear. My next move might be a mistake, but I’ll make it—just to have peace again. Sarah, James, my own heart—someone’s lying. And I’ll find the truth, even if it breaks me.
