Violeta went through a surprise divorce after being married for 30 years, right when she thought she would be having fun in her second youth. It was only her hope and positive attitude that helped her find happiness again.
“I’ve wanted to write to you for a while now. I was too scared and embarrassed, but I’ve finally made up my mind.”
My partner was always caring and treated me really well. We planned to bring back the spark from our younger days when our kids finished school and got married. We even decided to build a house in the mountains for our retirement.
Two years ago, when we were watching television, my husband said he wanted to talk to me.
I was totally blindsided when he told me the terrible news. He quietly admitted that he was in love, but not with me. He went on to explain that he had been seeing someone else for a while, that she was a student, and that he wanted to move in with her.
Luckily, I was sitting in an armchair because I felt so weak. I didn’t have the strength to confront him or ask him anything. All I could do was cry and tremble as I asked, “But what about me?”
He packed up his stuff the very next day and left. I felt really sad, but I couldn’t blame the girl who had caught his eye.
What I regretted the most was not seeing how he changed and letting him walk away. Soon after, I got a divorce notice. I went through a lot of heartache. The kids said I let him go too easily, but I thought fighting for him was useless.
I figured he would eventually regret his choice. I also started a new chapter in my life. Instead of looking for someone new, I just wanted to find peace. I traveled, met new people, and grew closer to my family and friends. While he was away, I felt amazing.
After a long time with no news, my husband finally came back home. I felt sorry for him. He looked sick and worn out. He wanted us to reconnect.
That’s when I started to feel upset and realized how much pain he had caused me. He had treated me like a “rainy day jacket.”
I asked him to leave my house with a smile, just like he had when he told me he loved another woman. I told him he should be with the woman he cared for so much, the one he left his family for.
Now, he’s no longer with her, is single, and is trying to make things right with the kids.
But even if I fell in love again, I wouldn’t marry again because I want to focus on my life and enjoy every moment with my grandkids. Even at 55, life is still meant to be lived beautifully, responsibly, and peacefully.