It all began like any other middle-aged crisis story – one of those “I need change” moments.
I was 49 years old, stuck in a marriage that lost a spark long before I even realized it. Isabel, or Izzy, as I told her, was the mother of my children and we built a life together. But this life has become a routine, a series of days intertwined with each other without real passion or connection.
I tried to ignore it for years and make sure things were fine, or that the cracks in our marriage were just a phase. But it wasn’t. It wasn’t okay. And when the idea of divorce began to look like the only way forward, I thought I was doing the right thing.
I knew a little, the way I was about to walk, led me directly to a storm I never saw. And the sleep would change everything.
Now that I stand on the edge of all this, I try to understand my past and rebuild the broken pieces of my family, I can’t help but think – was it really the right decision? Or was I just worse?
I am 49 and I recently came out of a 20-year marriage with Isabel or “Izzy”. The relationship stagnated completely and it seemed to me as if we were ready for it. So after the division I began to see someone named Jenna.
Ironically, I met Jenna at a party when I was still technically married, hosted by a joint friend. Fast forward to the 15th birthday of my daughter Maya and I thought it would be good to introduce Jenna to my family.
But since we walked into the party, things have felt. My former family gave Jenna a strange appearance and whispered with each other, and it wasn’t jealousy – it seemed to me to see the spirit.
Then my former saw us together and immediately shouted, “You idiot!” Everyone stiffened, confused by her explosion. My children, Caleb and Maya, who sat at the table, stood up, stood up and shared the same confused expressions.
Jenn’s smile stiffened and swallowed nervously. Before I could ask someone what was going on, I saw Izzy’s mother, Gloria, and attacked us, her face red in anger.
Without any warning, Gloria slapped Jenna through her face. Jenna staggered back and her hand flew to her face, I moved to protect her, but Gloria was not complete.
“How do you dare to show your face!” Gloria screamed at Jenna. “After all you did to my daughter?” Do you think you can come here?! ”
I was impressed. “Gloria, what the hell are you talking about?” I tried to push it gently.
Suddenly my former father-in-law, David, entered and grabbed Gloria, holding her back while Jenna had pure hatred for Jenna.
“You really don’t know, right?” He asked and looked at me like I was crazy. “This woman,” he said, pointing to Jenna, “was Izzy’s high school tyrant.” She kept bothering her! ”
Jenna, her head down, wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Is that … is that true?” I whispered.
Jenna hesitated and then nodded firmly. “Yes, but that was years ago.” I was young and stupid … ”
David interrupted. “It wasn’t just a high school.” She tried to get Izzy to throw away from college. She spread lies, accusing Izzy of cheating on rehearsals and plagiarizing papers throughout her first year! ”
I retreated back and shook my head. “No, it can’t be.” Tell them it wasn’t you, just! ”
“It was her,” David said. “It almost destroyed the future of my sister just because she couldn’t get to college herself!”
Jenna shot angrily, “I wasn’t stupid!”
Then she turned to me. “Yes, I did those things, Marcus.” It’s true. But people are changing! Isn’t it counting for something? ”
I felt dizzy. “Did you know it was my wife when we met?” I asked and felt betrayed.
Jenna looked down and nodded.
“Get out of my house!” Gloria screamed and hit David’s arms.
Jenna, trying to touch my arm, said, “Please, Marcus, leave with me. I’ll explain everything, ”but I was done.
“No,” I replied, cracking my voice.
Jenna shot, “Do you think you are so perfect? Do you think you didn’t hurt anyone? You left your wife and children just because you were bored. It’s not all for me! ”
I didn’t know if he said it would hurt me or justified me, but she turned and left her head high.
After she left, the backyard fell silent. Everyone was watching me and waiting for something.
My family looked at me with regret, but Izzy’s party’s party was full of contempt. Caleb stood with his hands crossed, his face tightly, while Maya looked at me as if I were a stranger.
“Dad …” Maya whispered, and her voice broke. “How could you?”
“Maya, he didn’t know any of this!” I cried.
Caleb stepped forward. “Honestly? Didn’t you know?” He asked.
May’s voice was shaking with anger. “You broke our family for nothing!”
These words hit me harder than anything else.
I spent months convinced that I was doing the right thing, and that divorce was the best decision. But at that moment I realized that it wasn’t about what was right for me – it was about my children. They weren’t happy and I was too selfish to see it.
Despite all this, Izzy didn’t say a word. She stood there and watched everything she was developing as if it weren’t her concern. It angry me and shouted at her, “It wasn’t my fault! I didn’t know! “Before the shame.
In the days that followed, I tried to address my children. Caleb would answer briefly, but Maya didn’t answer at all. I didn’t even dare call Izzy.
Then, a few weeks later, I met my cousin and bled about everything. At the end of our conversation, she gave me a business card for the therapist.
A few days later I called the therapist. One thing he said really helped me to see things clearly. “Whether you knew or not, it is irrelevant.” You chose the divorce. As you admitted, you hurt your family impulsively. The bomb that your sister-in-law has dropped is huge, but now it depends on what you do. Do you want to lose your children forever? ”
I didn’t want to lose them. I saw me selfish I was, and I knew I had to act.
I called David to get the whole story of how Jenna almost destroyed Izzy’s future. They had to get lawyers and the police to leave it alone. During our conversation, David called me a fool and said Jenna played me.
I asked David for forgiveness and gave it a lot back and back.
I also called Gloria and begged her for forgiveness. After a long, painful lecture, she gave me it. She also told me I would never find someone as great as Izzy.
And then I had to call Izzy. I knew I couldn’t get her back, but I had to ask for help with the kids.
According to my relief, Izzy agreed to help after I explained everything. She told me she understood that I couldn’t know Jenna, and for the first time in a while, I felt a feeling of relief.
It took several weeks, but Caleb and Maya eventually agreed to talk. It was slow and it was under their conditions, but I hope this is my chance to actually fix things with them.
I see them tomorrow. I wish you luck.
In the end, I realized that no matter how hard I tried to justify my actions, the pain I caused was my family’s real and undeniable. It wasn’t just about my mistakes, but about the lasting impact they had on my children, my ex-wife, and even on me. For the past few weeks, I have spent thinking about everything, trying to fix and rebuild the relationships that matter most. Tomorrow is a key moment for me, the chance to really listen to my children and show them that I am willing to do everything that is needed to correct things. It’s my last shot for redemption and I’m determined not to let it slip.