To be fair, I didn’t fully read your post. I will. I’ll take time to digest it.

Yes, I was smitten with her physically, but it was everything…. I’ve known other attractive girls and women and other than a look they got no interest. It was unreal how much she mirrored my values. And then progressively threw them away.

A couple of things happened this week that were telling.

My DD has a BF in another town. He used to live here but moved. He’s a good kid, so I take her to see him every second Saturday.

She wanted to do something for Halloween. She was also worried about her mom showing up at the house and there being drama. I offered to drive her to see him after work. I’m killing time at a coffee shop right now.

As the day approached, she said she didn’t even want to go home in case mom showed up before I got home.

She went to a friend’s after school today and I picked her up from there.

In the drive she told me she went to the school counselor office today. A girl walked up behind her in high heels, with the same gait as her mom. She said it surprised her and flooded her with panic so much it overwhelmed her for a short time.

She said the sound of heels on cement was really bad, really triggering

I asked why

She said, because it meant mom was home, on the walk beside the house and you didn’t know what was coming next.

That made me angry. I’ve been stopping myself from writing her and telling her off for three hours now. What’s the point? It won’t make a difference.

And you know what? We’re 22 months separated now. She’s never asked a question about our oldest. Nothing. Not once.

It’s just mind blowing to me still.

But you know what? Today was a really good day. The kids are each having a great night. And my phone is lit up with extended family sharing Halloween photos. My parents are in their 80s and used to decorate a lot. My brother and his wife went and decorated their house inside and out…. They went all out. It’s wonderful.

It’s a good day.