Brenda Perlin

I had just turned thirty. That was enough in itself to be depressed about. I never thought I would be this age and feel this worthless. I was supposed to be __omebody._ I guess you could say I was slightly disappointed at the outcome.

I could only defend myself so much. It was my word against his. There was no evidence, nor was there any proof. My word meant very little.

Living with myself wasn__ all that easy. I was not the young girl I once was. Once upon a time when I looked in the mirror, I saw this happy glow. Now nothing glowed except the leftover face cream from the night before.

This very easy divorce had become very difficult. I thought I was in the express lane and it was all fast tracks from there. Think again.

At times, it felt so odd being with a man in such an intimate way who was not my husband.

I had to get used to it because my life was no longer safe and I was no longer protected like I once was.

He would say things like, __ut you are my wife!_ when I didn__ do something that he wanted me to do. His expectations were not realistic.

I was physically attacked by a woman who didn__ even know me. Yes, my boyfriend was her former husband, but she tried to ruin me.

Somehow, we both got carried away. I don__ know exactly how it happened, but before long, I knew nothing was ever going to be the same.

I don__ know if this happens in all relationships, but I just got so sick of his all too familiar stories. I had heard these stories so many times that I could have recited them myself.

I didn__ want to get burned. I didn't want to be the other woman, but I wanted him with all my might.

Even though their marriage had been dead for over two years (her words, not mine), this put her in the role of the innocent. She was now a woman scorned. ~Shattered Reality

Not long after my mom died, my dad pretty much kicked me out of the house. He never said, __et out of my house,_ but instead, I came home one night to find all my clothes scattered all over our front lawn.

First of all, he was not my type. He was nice, considerate, unselfish and grounded; qualities I__ never experienced in a man. Usually, I went for the self centered, screwed up, ____ lost, will you be my mother_ type.

I had no intention of forsaking my wedding vows. I had strong morals and never could have imagined going against them. I was never even tempted to stray.

I was always on guard and I was always prepared for him to be upset with me. I had lived feeling uneasy and tense for so long.

Being married definitely took work. When we fought, I felt like I wanted to float away and drown, whereas before I knew I could walk away without any strings attached.

He wanted revenge and I knew he would not stop until he got it. I had to hope he would run out of fuel.