My marriage of 2 years ended in divorce. Blame it on my immaturity and didn't have a grasp of the responsibility and demand of marriage. I thought so long we were in love things would fall in place. We were idealistic and didn't have a stable foundation for a matrimonial relation.
After graduation and landed a job we were still very much a lovey dovey pair and thought ready to settle down and shortly we married. Initially was blissful but gradually we drifted apart as we faced the outside world and our aspiration changed. We had called time on our romance a year after marriage, with her busy work schedule leaving her little time to focus on our marriage. The work demand put stress with little time spent together. We had broader network of friends which changed our perspective in life. She began to have high expectation but our salaries cannot meet those wants and we squabbled frequently over financial matters. I failed to find a higher salary job.
I became depressed and felt low self esteem unable to give her a richer living. It was a painful parting for me but for her well being I agreed to the divorce so she was free to seek her fortune. It was an amiable divorce. I hugged and kissed her after I signed the divorce paper in the lawyer office. I was sobbing but she remained emotionless wanting to get over it quickly. I was depressed not my jolly mood for months. I kept blaming myself for the divorce because I couldn't afford the life style she wanted. I was emotionally down.
For months I still couldn't accept she never returned.
My mother in law could understand how dejected I was and often encouraged me to let go of the past and looked forward to a better tomorrow. She was of great emotional support for me, checked on how I fared regularly. She was shocked we divorced after such a short marriage and worried on her daughter chasing materialistic gains might cause her miseries later. She was an adorable mother, down to earth, pragmatic with a pleasant character. I admired her devotion character. She was a nice lady to have around in time of need. Soon after courting her daughter we had gotten to know one another pretty well over that time. Her demeanor was mild, never raised her voice or agitated. Like good old friends, we talked over my misfortune of a divorce.
She too have her sad life. I just couldn't understand her husband would divorce such an adorable wife. A sweet young secretary daily with him was temptation to go astray. He took her on business with him and one thing led to another. Being careless got her pregnant and his choice of a young beautiful wife made him divorced my mother in law. My wife told me it was a toll on her mother, nervous breakdown and depression for many years.
Seeing me in my state, she related her own experience and how she overcame it. She collected herself and forged forward to succeed in her career. I too could be successful if I put my will to it. It was easy for her to tell me but I was still deep in low self esteem. She constantly reached out encouraging me in person if not via phone. I was much gratified I had such a nice person to comfort me during my solemn affairs. She helped me to recover from depression. I was grateful to her.
Upon reflection I found her characters matched what I wanted in a soul mate. Compassionate, understanding, thoughtful and considerate for others. I admired her maturity and life experiences and I felt that was what I needed in my ideal companion. When I was with her daughter I didn't realize her virtues. If only her daughter had her qualities.
Well it was not the time to delve over the past. I must look forward in new endeavors she encouraged me. I liked her company as I appreciate her help and enjoyed her comforting conversation. She was genial in her concern about me throughout the times we interact. She was an articulate lady, patient and persuasive too.
I needed to plan for the future. Having another girlfriend to fill my void is easy but to get a soul mate who could share my life might not be that fortunate. I must regain confidence in myself first. With her encouragement I took on a more positive outlook in life. We went out dinner after work and always she initiated. I must be a nut head for not taking the initiative to invite her out to show my appreciation, to thank her for standing by me. In sorrow I was muddle headed but I slowly creep out of my solitude.
Somehow I began to like her company and found excuses to see her. I asked her out and she always obliged. So I wondered if she neglected her own social life to spend time with me. Or that she pitied me and tried to make up for her daughter forsaking me. Every time we met I was happier.
I looked forward to seeing her. In her presence I felt confidence I would make a complete recovery to understand my self-worth. She captivated me with her caring attitude. With frequent interaction I found that we could clicked, well matched in temperament and interests. My time spent with her made me slowly got over my depression and regain confidence. Soon I was chirpy and in cheerful mood. I took a liking on her and began to have emotional feeling for her though with due respect I still called her mother in law (MIL). I didn't know when my feeling for her surfaced.
My love for her grew from seeing how affectionate a mother she was to her daughter and mother in law to me. I secretly wished her daughter had her qualities but it was not to be. She got a life after her daughter married me. She practically got her involved in our social outings. We went to nudist resort/beach she came along. She was game to try and enjoyed our interests. We never left her alone.
I learned from ex-wife she was a lonely woman, emotionally deprived and never again trust a man emotionally after her divorce. She was vivacious and suitors tried to get close to court her. Though she did try to pick up the pieces and gone on dates but none of which had turned out good. All those men wanted was a fling and to bed with no commitment. She just didn't want to play the games or look for the "right" man. My ex said she never went out on single date for a long time. She had given up on men and stayed celibate.
So we tried to engage her in our activities. In the later time I knew her I began to see her virtues and beauty and that was when my emotion for her grew.
She had that thing call the X factor which provoked me wanting to get near to her. I felt edgy when she was not with me. I really craved to see her as time went by.
As time passed I viewed her more like another woman I fancy maybe with time could develop into a man-woman relationship. I had trouble rationalizing my emotion, would it be ethically right to have feeling for her and felt uncomfortable in her presence as to how to behave with her. At times I wanted so much to hold her hand as we walked or crossed the road but never had the courage to take her hands.
We met and had dinner on most days of the week and on weekend we would engaged in outdoor activities like jogging and biking. We liked each other company and practically spent our free time together.
I had yet to express my feeling for her I had been harboring for fear she turned me down. Having her company was a joy. I waited for an opportunity while I maintained at arm's length and let nature take its course. Like the saying whatever will be will be and what will be yours will be yours.
In my previous marriage I was always accommodating and giving and hardly receiving. No mutual respect and caring. That was what caused the breakdown.