We were in Mexico, surrounded by beautiful beaches, and I was excited about the trip I had planned. As a mom, I rarely got a break, and this was our time to reconnect. But from the start, Luke acted strangely. Whenever I asked him to take a photo of me, he’d brush it off, saying, “I’m not in the mood.”
At first, I thought he was just tired. But when I wore a new dress on the beach and asked him to take a picture with the sunset, he snapped at me, “Not now, Hannah.” I felt hurt and confused.
I noticed he was protective of his phone, hiding it whenever I walked by. My gut told me something was off. One afternoon, when Luke was in the shower, I picked up his phone and unlocked it, finding a group chat where he mocked me, saying, “At her weight, she still wants me to take pictures of her!”
Tears filled my eyes. This was the man I loved, saying such cruel things. After putting the phone down, I felt anger rise. I wouldn’t let him get away with this. I decided to post my vacation photos on Facebook with a caption: “Looking for a new vacation partner. Am I really so unattractive that even my husband doesn’t want to take pictures of me?”
A white woman posing for a photo during sunset on the beach | Source: Midjourney
My friends flooded the post with supportive comments, praising my photos and expressing shock at Luke’s behavior. When Luke came out of the shower, he sensed the tension and asked if everything was okay. I replied, “Just peachy,” still hurt and furious.
The next day, I was packing to return home when Luke walked in with flowers, looking sheepish. “I’m so sorry for everything,” he said, holding them out. But then he added, “With your new money, you can hire a trainer and lose weight.”
I was stunned. Did he really think I’d change for him? I replied, “Maybe I will, Luke. But not so you can ogle at me.”
His expression changed as I said, “I’m divorcing you.” He cried, begging me not to leave, saying he had plans for my inheritance. It hit me how little he valued me—only my money mattered to him.
I walked away, feeling a strange relief mixed with sadness. I began making arrangements to start the divorce process, supported by friends and family. I realized I didn’t need Luke to validate my worth.
In the following days, I focused on myself, working out, taking up hobbies, and considering going back to school. One day at the mall, I ran into Luke, who half-heartedly complimented me. I replied, “We’re doing great,” then left him confused and hurt.
I was finally free to live life on my terms, ready to embrace strength and self-love.
