After nineteen years of marriage and raising two children together, my husband left me for a young colleague.
I’m 42, and two weeks ago, my world fell apart: my husband, with whom I spent 19 years and raised two children, announced that he wanted a divorce. He openly admitted to having been in a relationship for 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 as to miss his infidelity? I trusted Matthew when he said he was staying late at work due to new projects and frequent trips around the country. I waited for him, keeping our home in order, preparing his favorite meals, ironing his shirts for the week ahead. I had no idea that all this care was not just for me and the children.
I was troubled by Matthew spending less time with the kids, distancing himself from family traditions. His financial contribution to the household began to diminish, and he wasn’t involved in everyday problems. I justified this with his busyness and exhaustion. When he mentioned he couldn’t join us for our holiday this year, I accepted it and took the kids to stay with my parents in the countryside. Returning home, I noticed Matthew had changed: he became withdrawn, avoided closeness, and once I caught the scent of unfamiliar perfume on his clothes and saw lipstick marks on his shirt collar.
When I demanded an explanation, he confessed to the affair and declared his intention to leave. My attempts to remind him about the children and the years we spent together did not sway his decision. We consulted a lawyer to start the divorce proceedings. I didn’t want to let him go, couldn’t imagine life without him, but I knew it was pointless to try to hold on.
Now, I’m left alone, heartbroken and afraid of what lies ahead. I realize I have a long road to recovery ahead, but I hope I can find the strength to move on for myself and our children.
