I just grew up at sixty-nine, and realized I deserved so much more. I wanted to be happy. I wanted someone to be happy when I walked in the room. If I stayed in this relationship, I would never feel whole, loved, cherished, and respected. And seen. Nothing else in a marriage matters if you are not first priority with each other. There was also the pressure of being an example for so many people who hoped to find a second chance at love. But I had to choose.
