We want to believe that we are intimately acquainted with our partner and know about every event in their lives. Regretfully, such is rarely the case, and secrets do occasionally come to light.
The following anecdote provides evidence of this, as a woman believed her relationship was going well, but it was not going as planned. It all began when he was narcissistically moaning about her.
You’re likely to find what you’re looking for once you start looking. Even if what you’re searching for isn’t excellent, that’s still true.
Jake, who referred to himself as “the busiest man on Earth,” had been my spouse for the previous three years. He used that as an excuse to spend hours and hours cooped up in his home office. But everything between us altered when I learned about his “work” one day.
Jake frequently discussed “building our future,” a term he repeated so frequently that it could have served as his motto. I trusted him. I desired to. Isn’t that the essence of love? Being there for your mate through difficult times?
I did all the other work to relieve his worry. In order to make ends meet, I worked part-time, took care of the house, and reared our two kids. Our finances, my sanity, and—most painfully—my faith in Jake all seemed to be slipping away from me lately.
I believed him when he said that he was “so close” to a breakthrough, despite the fact that our payments were consistently late and the battle never stopped. He claimed to be in “important meetings” or “crunching numbers” while spending the majority of his days confined to his sparse “office.”
I had to change every aspect of our lives to accommodate him, including when I did my duties so as not to wake him up and how quiet I kept the kids. Our days have a recurring pattern.
Jake would get up early, eat his breakfast quickly, and then say, “I have a big meeting today,” before vanishing into his “war room.” He spoke to it that way as though he were planning a worldwide coup. Despite his aspirations, our payments were still past due.
However, yesterday was different, and things took a significant turn after that.
The Wednesday was one of those days that seemed to go on forever. Since the children were not in school, there was more pandemonium because they started to get restless. My youngest, Tyler, continued to run in circles around the dining table while the dog barking joyfully in unison.
In the living room, my oldest daughter, Mia, was working on her cartwheels. In the meantime, I washed the kitchen counters, attempting to be as quiet as possible while maintaining some appearance of order.
“Stay down!” Tyler whooshed by me, and I hissed at him. “Daddy is at work.”
He gripped the dog’s collar and whimpered, “But Mommy, Scruff wants to play!”
I let out a sigh. I was not in the mood to dispute. Hours ago, Jake had locked himself in his office. “I have an important meeting today,” he had reminded us during breakfast. No disruptions. As usual, I nodded, even though the words hurt. Our family had adopted the unspoken rule that there should be no disruptions.
My thoughts drifted while I was cleaning the stove. How long has it been since Jake and I had a meaningful conversation? Not for the children or the bills, but for us? Regarding anything actual? I dismissed the idea and concentrated on the current task.
Then it took place.
Tyler scared me as he ran through after the dog, and the frying pan fell out of my grasp and hit the tile floor with a loud clang that made my son giggle and Mia scream.
“Sorry!” Tyler’s hands went to his mouth as he giggled.
Then, with his eyes burning and his face flushed, Jake raced out of his office! He yelled, “Can YOU not keep it down for one minute?!” and the children fell silent. “Are you aware of how awkward this is in a professional setting?”
I froze, holding on to the counter for balance. “Jake, I—”
His voice was brimming with frustration when he interrupted me. “You realize how amazing you are? You can’t even maintain silence while I’m in there busting my ass!
The children were motionless and wide-eyed as they stared at us. As though the dog could protect him from the stress, Tyler held on to Scruffy’s fur. I was about to say I was sorry when I heard a woman’s voice. Playful, soft, and completely inappropriate for our house.
With a knotted stomach, I turned to face the office door. I said softly, “Jake, who’s in there?”
Anger quickly gave way to panic on his face. He blocked the doorway and muttered, “It’s just a client.” “Avoid getting involved.”
However, I didn’t believe it! As I pushed by him and entered the room, my stomach turned suspicious.
The scene in front of me was stunning! A colorful, cartoonish online game was shown on the computer screen. A lively, animated avatar named “SUZYLOVELY88” was displayed in a video call window in the corner of the screen. As though this were the most hilarious thing ever, the avatar burst out laughing.
“What is this?” My voice was solid but wavering.
Jake’s anger turned into outrage. He puffed out his chest like he often did when he was trapped and declared, “It’s my hobby.” “You’re so dull all the time! I need to get away! I understand Suzy. Unlike you, she is enjoyable to converse with.
It seemed as though someone had hit me!
“Your pastime?” I said it again, raising my voice. “While I’ve been working nonstop to support this family, you’ve been shutting yourself in here and acting like you’re working? For what purpose? To converse online with a complete stranger?
“She isn’t just a random person!” Jake’s cheeks flushed and he snapped. “I can’t say enough for you—she actually listens to me.”
Stunted into stillness, I blinked. The children’s inquisitive gazes darted between us as they peered around the bend. Fortunately, they complied when I motioned for them to retire to their rooms.
I felt my rage flare up as I turned back to Jake. “Are you able to hear yourself?” My voice was shaking with emotion as I spoke.
“I have given up all for you—for us! Additionally, you have been sitting here squandering time on this bullshit.
Jake sneered, his confidence eroding. “Maybe I wouldn’t need this if you weren’t constantly so tired and groggy.”
I didn’t care that tears were streaming down my face. Infuriated once more, he continued, “You know what? I’m finished! I’m heading to Suzy! She truly brings me joy!
Without glancing at me, he ran out of the office, took a duffel bag from the bedroom closet, and began packing in clothes. I tried to reason with him as I followed him, but he refused to listen. And he was gone in an instant.
The following day went by quickly. I wavered between sadness, fury, and a strange sensation of relief. Both physically and emotionally, the house felt calmer. I consistently responded to the children’s inquiries about Daddy’s return date by saying, “I don’t know, sweetheart.”
Jake’s mom called on the second day. It was unexpected, and I was taken aback by the urgency in her voice.
“I know you’re upset, sweetie, but I have to tell you something,” she started.
“What is it?” Bracing myself, I asked.
As she recounted, her voice wavered. Jake spent hours driving to meet Suzy. However, she wasn’t who he believed her to be.
My heart fell. “What do you mean?”
“Suzy isn’t a woman,” she went on. He is a bearded middle-aged man. He has persuaded Jake to transfer money for “plane tickets” and has been catfishing him for months. My son is inconsolable!
The ridiculousness of it struck me like a wave, and I started laughing before I could control myself! Uncontrollably deep and genuine laughter. It was satisfying, like letting go of years’ worth of repressed annoyance.
“So, he wasn’t actually working all along?” Curious, I asked.
“No, darling, he wasn’t earning much money playing video games. He sent some of what little he had to this Suzy person. “Please,” his mother begged. “He feels ashamed. He desires to return home.
I inhaled deeply as my laughing subsided. “No,” I firmly answered. Jake made his own decisions. I’ve been putting myself last for far too long. I’ve stopped doing it.
I told Jake I wanted a divorce and that I was taking everything when he tried to call to ask to return. I said he could keep his laptop. “Perhaps next time you’ll find a better ‘Suzy.'”
I won everything, including the kids, and my husband couldn’t fight me much because he had nothing to his name and had cheated online.
I started to rebuild my life in the weeks that followed. I signed the kids up for childcare and got a full-time job. Every stride I made felt like a step toward freedom, even though it was frightening. I felt lighter than I have in years because I was no longer burdened by Jake’s troubles!
Tyler’s large, inquisitive eyes gazed up at me one evening as I put him into bed. He muttered, “Mommy, will we be alright?”
I grinned and softly brushed his hair back. With a confidence I hadn’t felt in years, I answered, “Yes, sweetheart.” “We will be more than suitable.”
And I actually did believe it for the first time.
