So...I went on a date today...and it was nice.
We sat there after we finished our lunch and talked for about three hours.
I was going to text him and thank him for lunch when I got home. And he beat me to it...I had just arrived home and got a text from him thanking me for going and that he really enjoyed it. We spent the next 3.5 hours texting back and forth.
He told me that I am attractive. That I have a beautiful face. Then he said, "I won't go further than that."

So...this is huge for me...I know a lot of people would tell me that I should not be dating anyone yet. I am still technically married...we have been separated for 19 months. We are not reconciling. the only reason we are still married is because of health insurance and education benefits.

my soon-to-be-ex was controlling and manipulative. we have been married for 13 years. the last year or so we lived together, he started raping me. I finally realized that's what it was, and I left.

I saw someone briefly right after I left (I left July 2012...and saw this other guy until September)....but realized I wasn't ready for anything. This is the first time in 16-17 months I have been out on a date. The first time I have considered seeing someone.

It's exciting...and scary. He's nothing like my soon-to-be-ex. I felt those little butterflies in my stomach flittering.

Though I am not sure how all this dating thing is supposed to work...