Dear CEM,
My life is a reality show gone wrong, and the cameras haven't even started rolling! This might be a long one, so grab a cup of tea (or something stronger).
Let's start with the friendship fallout. My best friend, Sarah, and I were inseparable. Until, well, her husband, Mark, became a little too "friendly" during a rough patch in my marriage. Full disclosure, things weren't exactly sunshine and roses with my husband, Tom, either. We were drifting apart, but that doesn't excuse what happened next. Mark and I... crossed a major line. Guilt? You bet. But the attraction was undeniable.
Fast forward, the guilt monster wouldn't leave me alone. So, I confessed everything to Tom. Needless to say, he wasn't exactly thrilled. Divorce papers swiftly followed. Meanwhile, Sarah discovered Mark's little "detour" (his words, not mine). Let's just say the friendship imploded faster than a faulty soufflé.
Here's the truly messy part, Agony Aunt. Mark, with nowhere to go (and, let's be honest, a little charm offensive), ended up moving in with me – while I was still technically married! Talk about awkward Thanksgiving dinner with the in-laws (who, thankfully, have no idea).
Eventually, Tom and I finalized the divorce. Mark and I are now officially "an item," living in the house we used to share with Tom. The guilt over Sarah is still there, a constant shadow. But Mark insists their marriage was a sham, and we're building something real.
So, here's my dilemma: Am I a homewrecker of epic proportions? Can a relationship born from betrayal ever truly work? Or am I just kidding myself, living on borrowed time?
The Ex-Wife/best friend!
"Real names have been replaced"
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