The begining of the rest of my new life? (3)

[Ripe]

Yesterday, after arriving, STBXW called and said she needed to talk to me. I told her we could talk today.
So today we talked over the phone. She immediately asked me how was the weekend.
This is clearly related to my defrosting towards her, a change in behavior that I consciously decided to make.
So I replied, sharing some details and comments on the kids' behavior during the weekend instead of just answering with monosyllables.
And then my new behavior just backfired.
STBXW told me she was starting a new project with her best girlfriend, a project related to portraits.
Aparently both have been taking some photos of each other with the girlfriend's mobile and they are not pleased with the results.
So, STBXW decided to ask me for my camera.
(I love photography and have a good camera. On our trips I would let STBXW take some pictures with it. I had decided at some point to buy her a camera, but then the bomb was dropped.)
She also said that the alternative was her buying her own camera. Of course, with my money because she is not working. It sounded a bit like blackmailing, frankly.
In the old times surely she would have the camera, but in the old times we were not separated. And some days before she would not have asked for such a thing because I simply was not giving her the space for that.
I replied that I would think about it.
And now that I have thought about it I will tell her:
- No, she cannot have my camera.
- I disapprove her buying a camera. She should make such investments after we are divorced.
- She should find another solution for the problem.
This will be a big event, because for sure it will have instant repercussions in our present mild relationship.
But I think it is time for me to clarify that we will not be friends outside of the marital context.
Also, I learned that I should not have behaved as a gay boyfriend without her showing any signs of second thoughts about her decision to separate.