Why Did I Say Yes? A Journey of Rediscovery and Love
Four years of fiery passion ended abruptly, leaving a void in my life that was hard to bear. I felt utterly lost, questioning how to rebuild my life after such a disappointment. This meant rethinking my studies, reassessing my career, and rebuilding myself emotionally.
Acting on impulse, I tried to skip the grieving process, holding back tears until my eyes ached. I hastily embarked on the dating scene—a colossal mistake! I cut my hair short, revamped my style, took some striking photos, and started meeting men. For about two months, I went on numerous dates, but no one caught my attention. Then, one day, a man reached out to me on Facebook, bonding over our shared taste in music. He had noticed my comments in a music enthusiasts’ group. This sparked endless late-night conversations about everything and nothing.
After many unremarkable dates, I finally found someone I looked forward to talking to daily. He seemed worthwhile, or so I thought. We met after one of my gym sessions. My first impression wasn’t great—he was short, slightly chubby, and his glasses magnified his astigmatism. He lacked presence and charisma, but I wasn’t going to judge him solely on looks. We had a drink and chatted for about an hour. After I got home, he called, the perfect gentleman, to check if I had arrived safely and complimented my beauty and charm. He expressed his wish to see me again.
Our dates continued. We shared another passion—gastronomy. We loved discovering new restaurants, especially those serving my favorite seafood pasta with spicy tomato sauce. He showered me with gifts at every opportunity. For a woman with a broken heart, attention and affection were all I needed, provided they came from a place of genuine intent.
We became an official couple. By this time, I had changed jobs and was in a comfortable financial position. Being transparent, I never hid this aspect of my life, openly discussing my finances. Unfortunately, I was unknowingly giving him valuable information, confirming his choice of an ideal victim.
Worse still, I shared my greatest vulnerability with him—my father’s sudden passing when I was 15. He was young and healthy, and his loss was a huge shock to my family and especially to me. He was more than a father; he was my best friend, my confidant, my soulmate. This trauma, I realized, was at the root of all my problems, including my fear of abandonment and anxious attachment.
Returning to my so-called gentleman, within a month, he had met my family, and I met his mother—a domineering woman who still treated her adult son like a child. My intuition warned me against her, but I ignored it. His masterstroke was asking to visit my father’s grave. There, he vowed to take care of me and make me happy, winning me over completely. I lost control, already weakened by my previous romantic disappointment.
Events moved swiftly—his proposal, our official engagement, and the biggest mistake of my life: marriage.
Next week, I’ll share the harrowing tale of living with a manipulator who exploited me.”
