New beginnings

My decree absolute finally came through before lockdown. My husband of 20 years was a magnet for women. He had two serious affairs. The first with a work colleague for which I forgave him and we vowed to make things work for our 2 amazing boys. The second with an ex from uni which lasted almost 9 years. She thought she was building a life with him. He wasn't. She pressured for commitment. Once again he begged me to forgive him and for us to stay together. I finally walked away - my heart, my self-confidence, my entire world shattered. The divorce process was long and horrible. I thought I would never be able to love, trust or be happy again. 
And then friends introduced me to a smart and wonderful man who made me laugh. Slowly our friendship grew into something more. At the beginning of lockdown I asked him to move in with me, my sons and our 2 dogs. I knew that it was a risk, but life is too short to live in fear and regret.
Moving in together made us and me stronger. He helped me to heal - supporting my work, encouraging me to complete my Phd, helping my sons to move forward. Most of all enabling me to rediscover the amazing woman I had forgotten was inside me. Perhaps the greatest evidence of how far I have come is the fact that I no longer feel anger towards my ex or his former lover. I am genuinely glad to see him happy with someone new and reconnecting with his sons. He always was a great father. I no longer feel the urge to call his ex's number in the middle of the night and scream down the phone. When I see her posting photos of his football club or favourite band in the hope that he will one day return to her, I long to encourage her to learn to let go and build her strength and self-respect as I have. During lockdown my smart and wonderful man asked me to marry him and I said yes. We all deserve new beginnings.