In last Sunday’s issue of The New York Times, there was a great Modern Love article by Aimee Lee Ball, “Exit Left, Wordlessly.”
Read it here.
In it, Ball explains a relationship she had with a Civil War re-enactor. Although she was attracted to him, she questioned some of the stories he told her about his home life. Soon enough, she showed him what she’d found on Google: his house was still under his wife’s name.
He had to spill the news that he was indeed legally married and living with his wife. Ball and the re-enactor went their separate ways before he came crawling back into her life 8 years and a divorce later. He came bearing romantically hand-written letters, champagne and plenty of roses.
However, he was still the same person with a life he wouldn’t share.
Eventually, he bailed on Ball, leaving without a trace.
I’ve been there, and as with any story, hearing those who’ve had it happen to them is always comforting. It’s sad that people can just leave a relationship without warning, or explanation. However, in Ball’s case, she learned she didn’t need the reasoning, because his cowardly behavior was enough.
While years have passed since I was left wordlessly, and my wounds have healed, it never hurts to hear a story like that. So, thanks Aimee.
The Bitter Lemon 