About 7 months ago, my husband sat me down and told me that he was in love with this woman from work. He said that he wanted to be honest and not cheat but wanted to do it the right way and ask for a separation. At that point he had changed towards me so much for the previous 6 weeks, his words came as a relief. He was cold, distant, combative and wanted to fight for anything. I walked on eggshells around him toward the end. When he told me he was in love it was the last thing I thought it was so it came like a realization and relief at once. *That is fine* was my answer. He was confused by my reaction that *it was probably for the best*. ***I thought you cared more tbh*** was his (disappointed?) answer. I explained about the eggshells that I finally can stomp on now.

He lived with me for two more weeks and it was awkward. Seeing him all jumpy and excited like a little boy. I mostly stayed in my bedroom. When he moved out I didn’t see him for a month. He texted occasionally asking how I was but I never answered. When I filed the paperwork for divorce we started seeing each other more, planning when to sell the apartment, moving his and my stuff around and then about a month ago, we started the renovation of the apartment. We were painting the bedroom and he was distant again. I wasn’t sure if I should say anything but decided to ask what’s up. He looked like he took the question literally. He said that he wasn’t sure. Things didn’t go as he thought they would. When he moved out and found his new place things changed with her. ***I don’t know how to explain it. She wasn’t as passionate.*** He explained that he expected more in the beginning of a relationship, reminding me of how passionate we were. I told him that when they started the affair, she was fully aware she was stealing himfrom another woman. He got very upset saying he never cheated, he was adamant to end our relationship before starting anything with her. I just looked at him and continued, she was fully aware she was stealing you from another woman, maybe that was the only excitement for her and now you two have nothing. He didn’t say anything for a while then he said that he missed me. I asked if he was gonna make this awkward, because then we can divide the job and work on the renovation on different schedules. He apologized and said that he didn’t mean to offend me but that he missed me all the time. I said well you offend me because as opposed to them I don’t flirt with unavailable people. He thought my comparison was ridiculous. I just shrugged.

Then yesterday he sent me a text saying that I was right. When he told his colleague that he was back together with his wife, she was back to being passionate and affectionate. I didn’t answer, thinking, this was worth my heart? The absurdity and ridiculousness of breaking my heart for this, made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. An hour later, he was at my doorstep. He didn’t say much just smoked about 20 cigarettes and I too smoked after 15 years of being smoke free. He said ***I don’t know what I was thinking. I love you. You know that?*** I answered No which is the truth. He looked shocked, like I said something crazy. ***Come on! You know I love you.*** I again said NO! He just shook his head. After he left he texted me that he was ending things with her. I texted back that this must be the most ridiculous thing to have ended a marriage over. He called me 3 times but I didn’t answer.

When I told my friends what happened, they were surprised at how judgmental I was towards the other woman. One friend even went as far as calling me a pick me. I was surprised too because I have always counted myself as a feminist and girls girl. I didn’t argue with them because I didn’t have the energy but also because they gave me something to reflect upon. I have never thought I would be in the wrong in this, having been feeling the victim for the past 7 months. Now I feel that maybe I wasn’t and it made me feel less angry for some reason. Like I am on equal footing with my husband and his colleague.