I thought laundry day was just another boring job until I found a letter that would change everything. As I was going through my husband David’s clothes, a folded piece of paper fell out and told me a shocking truth.
David’s handwriting was clear on the letter, which invited an unknown woman to enjoy their seventh wedding anniversary. As I tried to make sense of the facts, my mind went blank. Seven years? There was a time when David was living two lives. He was married to me for 18 years and I had no idea.
I was shocked, angry, and hurt, among other things. I was shocked that the man I had trusted for so long would do something so bad to me. I chose to talk to him about it, but not directly. It was important to me to catch him in the act and know the truth.
I got a babysitter to watch our girls while I went to the restaurant where David was meeting his mistress. Even though I was sitting at a nearby table, I couldn’t help but feel worried and excited.
David walked in. For a split second, his eyes met mine, and then he looked at Isabelle, his lover. It hurt like a punch in the gut the way he looked at her, so close and warm. That sound made my heart hurt so badly.
As the scene went on, I introduced myself to Isabelle and told her the truth about David’s marriage. I loved the way he looked, which was a mix of guilt, shame, and fear.
The argument was heated, and Isabelle was clearly upset by what was said. David tried to say sorry, but his words didn’t mean anything. I had to be strong for our girls even though I knew our marriage was over.
After leaving the meal, I felt like I was going to do something. For myself and my girls, I would get through this. I knew the split would be hard, but I knew it had to happen. What David did to cheat on me broke my heart, but it also set me free.
