My name is Leslie and I was married to Chuck for twenty-six years. We have two grown children, a boy and a girl. I thought I had the perfect life. Chuck's job as a stockbroker allowed me to be a stay-at-home mom and still provide us with a very comfortable lifestyle. We have a lovely home in a wealthy suburban community with an inground pool. Chuck has a nice collection of sports cars. Our children are doing well and are financially self-sufficient. Life was wonderful.
My body isn't the same as when I was younger. I gained a few pounds, my breasts have become victims of gravity, and my hips and butt are wider than I'd like. Chuck's hair is thinning and he's carrying a few extra pounds, mostly in his waist. Given all of that, Chuck and I still had a decent sex life.
When our youngest went to college, I thought Chuck and I would have more time to travel and was hoping our sex life would get even better. Things didn't quite work out that way though. He started spending more time at the office and began to travel more often for work. I offered to go with him on his business trips but he said it wasn't feasible. He said he'd be tied up with clients all day and would be entertaining them at night. I was disappointed but he was a good provider and his income was increasing so I didn't complain. I trusted him.
I was getting bored at home and struggling to keep myself busy now that I wasn't involved in a PTA, soccer, or baseball leagues. I ended up putting on a few more pounds. As sex with Chuck became less frequent, I blamed myself for not being sexy enough for him. When we did have sex, he seemed disinterested and would fall asleep immediately afterward. Orgasms became far and few between.
One day while Chuck and I were having dinner, he told me he needed some space. I was confused and asked what he meant.
"I mean, what I really want is a divorce."
I was stunned, to say the least.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I plan on moving out and I want a divorce. I don't know. I think I want more in life and I want the freedom to do what I want when I want."
I was shattered. He kept talking but the words weren't sinking in. I barely remember what the hell he said. I was in a total state of shock.
I asked him, "Is there someone else?"
He stared at me for a few moments and I asked, "Who is she?"
"Well, I've been seeing Marissa?"
"Your assistant?"
Chuck looked sheepishly at the table and I asked, "How long has this been going on?"
"Almost a year," he replied.
"A year? A fucking year?"
I felt like an idiot. Suddenly, everything came together. All the late nights at work, all the business trips, the weekend meetings. How could I be so stupid?
Marissa was a cute young woman about half Chuck's age. She had a lovely figure, blonde hair, blue eyes, and was sexy. There is no way I could physically compete with her. I threw my napkin at Chuck which didn't make it across the table so I threw my plate, glass, and silverware at him.
I was so hurt and frustrated that I ran to our bedroom and began to cry. He tried to console me but I told him to get out. I wanted him out of the house immediately. I couldn't even look at that lying bastard.
Chuck packed a few clothes and left the house. I later found out that he already had an apartment that he was using as his love nest with Marissa. I was hurt beyond belief and did nothing but cry for several days. I leaned on my best friend Carey for consolation through these tough times. After listening to me and my woe-is-me state of mind for almost a week, Carey gave me some tough love.
"You know I love you Leslie, but you need to snap out of this and fight back. You need to quit feeling sorry for yourself and get a good lawyer. You need someone who will go for the jugular."
You know what, she was right. I went from self-pity to being furious. Carey helped me find the best divorce lawyer in town and we went to war with Chuck and his attorney. Carey got me to join the gym she goes to and I started to get back in shape. Not only was I looking better physically but it helped me mentally by working off the stress of the divorce. It was still difficult to get over the rejection I felt after being married all that time to someone who I thought was my soulmate but the healing process had begun.
When I first joined Carey at the gym, I wore very loose clothing. I had body image issues and tried to hide my perceived flaws as best I could. Carey was after me to show off my assets to attract some potential male suitors. I was nowhere near ready to start dating again. I didn't need any more complications in my life. I barely wanted to go out with my friends but Carey forced me to get out of the house.
In the months that the lawyers were negotiating a settlement, I lost more weight and some of my flab turned into muscle. Carey convinced me to buy some leggings to show off my butt. I bought some sports bras but told her I'd wear them under a shirt. I wasn't going to let anyone see my stomach at my age. She did convince me to start wearing tank tops as a compromise.
Carey told me, "You have nice boobs. It's time to bring the ladies out of hiding."
I smiled and rolled my eyes but that's what good friends are for. When we were at the gym, she would tell me when she saw guys checking me out. I was skeptical and thought she was saying that to build up my confidence.
One day when I got home from working out, I stopped to check out myself in the mirror before I took my shower. I looked at my naked body from different angles and noticed a drastic difference from several months ago. My body wasn't perfect but I'm more than average height and my legs looked so much better now. I thought my ass was still too plump but I went down a few sizes in the slacks that I wore. I lost a cup size in my breasts but that meant I was only a D cup now. I had a few wrinkles on my face but fewer than most women my age.
I thought to myself, "Not bad for an old lady."