Rediscovering who I am outside the marriage

The kids are more resilient than the fear tells you. Steady and honest is enough. I felt this in my chest. You are not failing. You are surviving something most people never have to.

took me forever to stop introducing myself in relation to him. one day i noticed i'd just stopped. you will too.

it's weird and slow but it happens. i started with tiny things, music he hated, food he'd never order. the bigger stuff followed on its own.