After 14 years of giving everything to my family, Peter left me and our four kids for a carefree colleague. He sent a text saying I was “too tired, too boring, too much,” and needed “more from life.” A year later, as I was starting to heal, he showed up at my door with a cheap bouquet, asking for another chance.

The breakup crushed me. Peter walked out on our daughter’s recital and our children’s lives, only to flaunt his new freedom online. I kept going for my kids, packing lunches and managing endless tasks, while silently unraveling inside. I focused on survival, then healing—turning a guest room into an office, returning to full-time teaching, and even joining a book club. Slowly, I started thriving again.