Divorce because I betrayed her trust - PART 7

[DaB35]

Emotional day. I left my house and the town where I lived for 3 years for the very last time this morning.

When we got there, discovered W had left TONS of stuff that (a) I assumed she'd take and (b) was hers anyway but she just left behind. Things like gifts her students bought her, her suitcase, even a chair/side table that belonged to her gran. I texted her asking if she's coming back but she replied saying "No I've taken everything I could. If you want it you can have it, or just bin it. Your mum can have the chair if she likes it. I just don't have space in my storage unit." She left lots of things we'd previously agreed she'd take (e.g. the kettle, the side table, the chair, some garden stuff from the shed, her own suitcase which she's had for decades). W also left behind a couple of presents I got her earlier last year.

My parents took everything. They hate seeing things go to waste. I was going to text W later today to say it's in my storage unit - when she's more settled she can have the stuff whe nshe has space.

She left a card for my parents. It said, "Thank you for the work you've done on the house, it's made it much easier for me to cope with everything. I wanted to thank you for all your support over the years, and for the encouragement and practical help you've given me when I needed it. I love you all, W xxx"

As the house was empty, I went round every room, first to check I hadn't forgotten anything, but also to just say a final goodbye to each room. As I closed the front door and locked it for the last time, I don't know why but I just pressed the doorbell so I could hear the nice simple chime one last time.

I went to see one of my neighbours to say goodbye. She has always been friendly and supportive of us. I don't know why, but as she gave me a big hug I just burst into tears. She knows W & I have S and most likely will have seen W as she was packing her things up and W would have probably mentioned D. She asked if I was ok and I said yes but clearly I wasn't! She told me to "look up and forward" and that "good things will happen". She gave a second big hug and smile, and we parted ways.

My sister noticed I was a bit teary as I locked up. I cried for a bit in the car on the way to the storage place but was ok by the time I got there. Managed to fit everything in - just! I'll have to go through everything over the next few weeks, and separate it into piles of keep/sell/charity/tip/donate to others.

I already miss the house. We both worked so hard to get it. We put our life savings into it for our deposit. We really did a lot to it to make it a home. I miss the town too; it was lovely, not too big, not too small, and everything you needed was on the high street - newsagents, gift shops, bakers, butchers, general store, little theatre, hardware store, barbers, hairdressers/salon, takeaways, brilliant Indian restaurant, car garage, little supermarket. All within walking distance of each other. W and I achieved so much as a couple. I am so sad that she felt the last 8 years were not worth her putting effort in to save it. Having said that, I will still DB. For me.

Going to go for a lie down I think!