Category: relationships

**Disclaimer: Trigger Warning ** I checked into a hotel in Oak Brook, then headed to my daughter’s new salon suite to get a brow wax. We had dinner and talked about things. We commiserated for a while, then she told me she never thought I should’ve been with him. She laid out the obvious differences…

I sat for a minute, waiting for an argument or even a physical altercation, because I was ready for either—but there was none. After a few minutes, I got up from the ottoman and stood at the door, waiting for him to leave, but he didn’t move. He knew if he left right then, that…

When I got back from Austin, I went into overdrive packing. I was ready to start fresh. This move would be a clean slate—my new, narcissist-free life and season. I’d always lived in apartments and had people above or below me. I’d also never had my own driveway or backyard, but I would now. Needless…

I was downsizing from 1,200 sq. ft. to 750, so I needed to purge. I sold a few things here and there on Marketplace, but I still had a lot to get rid of. Then one night, I woke up around 2:30 a.m. and saw a Facebook friend’s face in my mind. So, I got…

My birthday falls at the end of November, right before the holiday season. Unfortunately, the holidays don’t stop just because you’re having a minor life crisis. I just wasn’t in the mood to cook a big dinner or play happy couple. We were anything but that—we were back in the motions stage. He ignored me…

After lowkey ruining my birthday, I knew I had to cut the tie and never take him back, no matter how many crocodile tears he cried. I knew I didn’t want to do it out of anger because I wanted it to last. I didn’t want any fickled emotions to be involved either, so I…

My heart sank. This felt like Promise Ring 2.0. I popped open the box, and there lay a short gold rope anklet. I was confused; I hadn’t ever asked for a bracelet of any kind. I wanted to be gracious, so I smiled and said, “Oh, I didn’t know I wanted one.” He didn’t respond,…

When I got home from the hospital, I didn’t need to lift a finger. He changed the linens on my bed, deep cleaned the bathroom, scrubbed the floors, got the mail, stocked my fridge, and put away every trace that I had ever been sick. I was truly indebted to him. I’m like that almost…

He and I went on with the facade as we had always done. He would come over for an hour in the evening, sit in the same chair, play the game on his phone, and leave after eating. No phone calls, no conversation, and no future plans. I had no feelings for him anymore, but…

My ex had been texting me while I was on the plane. The last text said, “I’m so sorry, please forgive me. I’ve been doing a lot of praying, and I now know you are my wife. I want to get married. Please, give me another chance.” I stared at my screen in disbelief. After…