He often travelled for work, and Id long since grown used to it. Hed reply to my texts late, come home tired, and say the meetings had gone on forever. I never snooped through his phone or grilled him with questionsI trusted him.
One afternoon, I was folding laundry in our bedroom. He walked in and sat down on the bed, still in his shoes, and said,
I want you to listen to meplease, dont interrupt.
Right then, I knew something was wrong. He told me hed been seeing another woman.
I asked who she was. He hesitated for a moment, then gave me her nameSophie. She worked close to his office, was younger than him. I asked if he was in love. He said he didnt know, but said he felt different around her, less drained. I asked if he was planning to leave. He replied,
Yes. I dont want to pretend anymore.
That night, he slept on the sofa. He left early the next morning and didnt come home for two days. When he finally did, hed already talked to a solicitor. He told me he wanted the divorce done as quickly as possible, no drama. He started laying out what he would take and what hed leave behind. I listened in silence. Less than a week later, Id moved out.
The months that followed were rough. I had to sort all the things we had always sharedpaperwork, bills, decisionson my own. I started going out more, not really because I wanted to, but because I couldnt bear to stay in by myself all the time. I accepted every invitation, just to avoid the silence at home. At one of these outings, standing in line for a coffee, I met a man. We chatted about the weather, the crowd, trains running latemundane things.
We kept stealing glances at each other. One day, sharing a tiny table, he told me his agehe was fifteen years younger than me. He didnt make any awkward comments, didnt joke about it. He asked my age in return, and carried on talking, as if it made no difference at all. He asked me out again, and I said yes.
Everything with him was different. There were no grand gestures or empty promises. He asked how I was, actually listened, and stayed beside me when I spoke about the divorce, never changing the subject. One day, he told me plainly that he liked me, and he knew I was coming out of something complicated. I told him I didnt want to repeat old mistakes or become dependent on anyone again. He said he didnt want to control me or rescue me.
My ex found out about the new man from someone else. After months of absolutely no contact, he rang me. He asked if it was true I was dating a younger man. I said yes. He asked if I wasnt ashamed. I told him the real shame was his betrayal. He hung up without another word.
I got divorced because he left me for someone else. But then, when I wasnt searching for it, I found myself with someone who truly loves and values me.
Perhaps that is lifes giftto survive heartbreak and find, with time, what you actually deserve.
