Parted

  Photo by Maddi Bazzocco on Unsplash Mine months ago, it became increasingly obvious my marriage was struggling. My husband and I had discussed separation, which he didn't want, but seemed impending. Finally circumstances in March of 2021 made the separation inevitable.  Knowing it was the right choice helps me stay the course, but it is a poor substitute for life with another adult. It hurts, sometimes One thing I had forgotten when I was in the relationship, was the pain of loneliness. It isn't just the stress of being the only adult meeting the needs of the children, or the financial worries, but the simple quiet pain of getting the kids to sleep, looking at the other end of the couch and seeing...noone. Maybe the dog on some nights. And that is when the ache starts. It's a dull, kneading feeling in the pit of my stomach. If I wait until it is actually dark out (the kids have been going to bed quiet early this summer--but making up for it by waking at 5 a.m. most days)