I keep reading these memes about how one has to go through trials to become stronger, how in japan broken vases are lined with gold and thought of as even more precious, etc etc. Honestly, I know in my mind this can be true. We do need to go through things to learn and change and grow. There is no better teacher than life experience. But in the midst of struggle, in the middle of pain, it is hard to see the beautiful butterfly they say you will be after it all. I often think, is there no end to it? The struggle, the heartbreak? Or is it just me, prolonging my own agony, refusing to learn the lesson, refusing to let go.
Two weeks ago, I was told of yet another bomb involving my ex-husband. Really, I should not have been surprised. He has been acting so nice towards me, generous, affable, helpful even. I was wondering when the rug would be pulled out from under me. And lest anyone say I am a negative person, let me just say that this is how it has always been with him. So to make the long story short, it appears he will be a dad again, and the child will not be half me.
How did/do I feel about this? To be 100% honest and transparent, gutted. I know it was bound to happen someday. But just like infidelity, when it is a hypothetical, it isn't really real, not really painful. And like infidelity, my ex has taught me another very real lesson of life.
Really though, why should I be affected? We've been separated for 6 years now. We just got our annulment papers this May so we are in the process of finalizing making our marriage non-existent. Why should it still matter? I don't know. But it does. And there were a couple of days immediately after where I had to take time off from work because I just couldn't concentrate. There was rage, and hurt, betrayal, rejection, fear, and brokenness all rolled into my stomach. Now, two weeks on, there is rejection and a wealth of sadness. I've had nightmare-filled nights of him in this new set-up. During the day, even when I try my best to think past it, I see my life played out, like film on a projector, from the day we met to getting together, to getting married, to having kids, to all the problems, to splitting up, and all the in-betweens and I am filled with this aching sadness.
So why? In part it is because I am no longer the only mother of his children. I guess I appreciated that fact, even if I knew that reality may change in the future. There is also having to deal with possibly seeing him with another family, possibly seeing that succeed where mine failed so badly, having that which was a fond wish of mine fulfilled elsewhere. How will I deal with it? Essentially, it is not about me but my reaction is all about me. This I have to understand and deal with. Then there is that part that has to truly put to rest all that was with him, and all that now really can never ever be. My kids' sad lamentations of wanting us to get back together are really now relegated to the hall of wishful thinking. And I knew I didn't want to get back together with him as he is now, but there was a part of me that hoped that if he changed, he may see that our family can be happy together. And I guess that is a part of me that died with the news and the part I am now mourning.
What is there to do moving forward then? In truth, it is a mystery. For certain, it is a life with me and my two kids together. Only us for now. I pray there will be a good man in the picture in the future. One who can be a real partner to me, a real complement, a whole person ready, willing, and able to take care of me and my kids and who I can take care of as well. Not perfect but perfect for me.
In the meantime, I have to live with myself by myself and learn to finally, truly, completely, wholly, unreservedly, let go of all that was. Just let it all go. I pray for the strength, the clarity, and the resilience to do this.