I divorced my first husband many years ago. Oh, how he exhausted me! After that marriage, it took me a long time to recover.
He didn’t work, wasted my money on alcohol, and stole things from home.
And I put up with it all because I had a son to support.
But one day, when Gabriel was twelve, he came up to me, looked me straight in the eyes, and said,
„Mom, why are you putting up with all this? Kick him out!”
It was like my eyes were opened.
Without hesitation, I kicked my husband out of the house.
It was a relief that can hardly be described in words. After that, I had a few admirers, but I never considered starting a new serious relationship.
I was afraid of falling into the same trap again.
The last four years have been particularly difficult.
My son moved to Canada for work and decided to stay there forever. But I don’t want to move; it’s too late to get used to a new country.
The pandemic was an especially difficult time: no one came to greet us. The loneliness finally became unbearable.
„At least find a friend to talk to!” a friend encouraged me.
„You see, when I see men my age, they all feel old and frail. I’m embarrassed to be seen with them.”
„What’s the point? Taking care of someone in their old age? They’re not looking for a partner: they want a nurse.”
„Then you should meet someone younger. You’re still beautiful!”
Those words got me thinking. And almost by chance, I started talking to a man who lived next door.
He walked his dog every day in the park near where we lived.
His name was Ion. Divorced, his ex-wife had moved to Italy, and he had an adult daughter. He was truly a handsome, tall, and charming man, 49 years old.
I was, as I said, 62.
We started talking, and he courted me wonderfully: almost every day he brought me flowers. I barely realized he’d already started living with me.
Everyone around me wondered how such a handsome and interesting man could be interested in me.
I’ll admit: I enjoyed the attention.
Every day I cooked him delicious food and happily washed and ironed his clothes. But one day he said,
„Can you take my dog out? It would do you good to get outdoors more often!”
„We can go together,” I said.
„It’s probably better if we don’t see each other so much.”
„Is he ashamed of me?” I thought. And then I realized I’d become his housekeeper. I decided to talk to him about it.
„I think housework should be divided fairly. You can iron your own clothes.
And walk your dog yourself.”
“Listen, if you want a handsome young man, you have to make sure you make him happy. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
“You have 30 minutes to pack up and leave!”
“What? I can’t. My daughter already let her boyfriend move into my apartment.”
“Then you can live together!”
I kicked him out without hesitation. But I have to admit it made me sad. Has a woman my age really lost all chance of finding true love?