We practically need to mourn the death of our old spouse. The happy, loving person that we fell in love with and married is gone. Maybe a new but different version of that person will show up again someday, and we'll get to meet them. Maybe not. It's one of the many losses that go along with a D like this, in addition to fractured R's with kids, loss of R with in-laws, possible loss of friend groups, etc. Lots to process. It's no wonder it takes so much time to work through it all.
Me 38, WAW 30 D11 (former marriage) S2 T 8 years M 3 years BD 8/20/23 S 8/20/23