Emotional affair.I’d never paid much attention to the term.
I’ve never been attracted to men who are attached.
A home wrecker hater, if you will.
yo respect your last relationship by not using me to get over it, thank you.
Rules, I follow.
Boundaries, I have.
I met Sean in a theater production where he played, ironically, a man who was cheating.
To say we clicked is a gross understatement.
I didn’t sense any real alarm bells.
Besides, he was married!
The production ended, as did our contact.
I was relieved that it turned out to be nothing.
Or so I thought.
It was an amazing opportunity for me theatrically, but it took days to decide if I could accept.
I couldn’t place the unsettling feeling, so I made a list of pros and cons.
Cue first alarm bell.
We went as far as making a date to make things physical.
In the end, neither one of us could follow through.
I guess we weren’t so good at being “bad.”
But here’s what I’ve learned about emotional affairs, from a first-hand perspective.
They’re rarely planned.
I dont believe anyone wakes up thinking,Today Ill put my marriage on the line.
Ive read that emotional affairs are like spider webs: nearly invisible and incredibly sticky.
They’re deeply complicated.
The possibility of a relationship wasn t there, so you were free to grow close with ease.
Until someone crossed a line.
They’re easy to judge … until you’re a part of one.
I feel differently now.
Dont get me wrong, I dont condone this.
I simply have new perspective.
The grief process still applies.
That doesnt mean that this doesnt hurt.
Today I saw him for the last time.
Its tragic; I lost my friend.
Definitely as a friend and maybe more; Ill never know that part for sure.
But being the other woman came with its fair share of shame.
Ive conquered denial, anger, bargaining, and now, my least favorite: depression.
Thats where real love awaits.
And thats the only kind I deserve.
