My husband’s ex-wife—the mother of his two children—was recently diagnosed with cancer. With no family to rely on, my husband told me he couldn’t let her face this alone. He said he needed to be there for her, and I supported his decision completely.
I even offered to help, but she gently declined, saying she wasn’t comfortable being that vulnerable around someone she didn’t know well. I respected her boundaries and stepped back.
As time went on, my husband became increasingly involved in her care and emotional support. At first, I tried to understand—she was facing something terrifying, and they shared a long history.
But as the weeks passed, I began to sense a shift. He grew distant, spending less and less time at home, and I could feel the ache of disconnection growing between us.
Last night, I stopped by the hospital unannounced. When I walked into her room, I froze. She was resting her head on his shoulder, the two of them sitting far too close. My heart sank. I didn’t say a word; I simply turned around and left.
When he came home, I confronted him. He asked me to sit down so we could talk openly. He assured me that nothing romantic or inappropriate had happened—but then he admitted something that broke me.
He said the kind of support his ex needed was more than he could give while still being fully present as my husband. He told me he thought we should separate, at least for now.
Not long after, he packed a bag and left. Since then, we’ve had only minimal contact.
Now, I feel torn. Part of me wants to file for divorce and start moving forward—to protect my heart and find closure. But another part wonders if I should wait, give it time, and see where life leads us.
Source: brightside.me
Note: This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only.