Way to go FLTC!!!! We all get out of the mess sooner or later. I took a long time just like you but I dealt with the mess in the best way I knew - just like you. And I found happiness when the time was right - just like you. Feels better, eh???
8 years for me since the bomb. My ex and I split and got back together twice in the first couple of weeks. And our split happened at the same time as 9 -11. Some things you DO not ever forget.
But it is all part of the history. For the first time - I did not feel ANYTHING on the date of our split (last week). I also find that for the first time ever in 8 years, I can now go a day or 2 with no thoughts of ex and maggot and no anger towards them.