My ex and I have been separated for more than seven years and both are now at peace with the situation. That was different a few years ago. Because of our three adolescent children, we tried to keep it as civil as possible, but we could drink each other’s blood. He mine because I left him for another man, who I am still with now, by the way. I his because he did everything he could to make my life as horrible as possible.
He thwarted everything related to our divorce. Didn’t appear at the mediator’s office, didn’t help pay for the children’s expenses, and certainly had no intention of leaving our joint home or buying me out. But that all changed when he got a new girlfriend about three years ago. Our kids instantly fell in love with her and he finally seemed to be getting some rest.
In any case, he was more willing and suddenly everything could be arranged. The divorce came through, we sold the house and the parenting plan finally went into effect.
His new girlfriend had a six-year-old son herself and she soon moved in with my ex.
The same outfit
The first time I saw her, I noticed that she somehow resembled me. Same height, build, smile and glance, but in terms of clothing it was quite a gray mouse.
‘Dad asks where you ordered that dress for your fortieth birthday again?’, my daughter asked at one point. I thought nothing of it, until a month later I saw the new girlfriend in the same outfit as I did then. Could my ex have something to do with that?
At a party a few months later, he came in with her by his arm. She was radiant and looking great. I really couldn’t say anything else. As we queued for the bathroom together, I complimented her on the beautiful heels she wore. “I got it from R.. He’s really good at shopping for me. Isn’t it sweet!” Very sweet of course. It’s strange that they were exactly the same shoes I got from him years ago.
Sister
In the end, very simple black pumps but so expensive that I had some doubts about it at the time. My ex gave them to me for my birthday. As I stood in line behind her, I studied her hair. It was just a little blonder than before, like mine, and the way it was updo resembled the way I often do it myself. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think it was my sister.
Later that night, as everyone got a little tipsy and loose-lipped, a mutual friend confessed that he was happy for us. Glad my ex and I could finally be in a room together without fighting each other out. “And now that his girlfriend has also started to dress a bit better at his request, he’s quite happy with her.”
Did I hear that right? How bummed I would be if my boyfriend was slowly but surely transforming me into his ex-wife.
tiger print
I recently experienced the peak. I was approached in the pub by a vague acquaintance saying that he was so happy that my ex and I were back together. My negative reaction surprised him greatly. He had actually seen us together on the golf course. “I could have sworn it was you. You have that funny raincoat with a tiger print, right?” Yes, I sure have. But I gave up golfing years ago, just like that ex. But he obviously hasn’t let go of me yet and is making his own clone.
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