Gina Heslop
Hi everyone, Hannah here. I’m a 38-year-old mom of two amazing kids, ages seven and five. I’ve been married to my husband, Luke, for almost ten years. Like any couple, we’ve had our ups and downs, but something happened on our recent vacation in Mexico that shocked me more than anything we’ve been through before.
Picture this: beautiful beaches, stunning weather, and an eagerly anticipated break from the daily grind. I had meticulously planned this trip, looking forward to reconnecting with Luke and relaxing. However, from the start, Luke was acting strange. Every time I asked him to take a photo of me or with me, he would brush it off.
At first, I thought maybe he was just tired from the travel. But then it became a pattern. One evening, while on a beautiful beach at sunset, I was wearing a new dress I had bought specifically for the trip. Feeling good about myself, I asked Luke to take a picture of me with the sunset. He sighed and said, “Not now, Hannah.” His refusal hurt me. We were on vacation, and he couldn’t take a moment to snap a photo?
Throughout the trip, Luke was overly protective of his phone, hiding the screen whenever I was nearby and taking it with him even to the bathroom. My gut told me something was off. One afternoon, while he was in the shower, I saw his phone on the bed. My heart pounded as I picked it up. I knew it was wrong to invade his privacy, but I needed to know. I unlocked his phone and opened his recent messages. What I read made my blood run cold. In a group chat with his friends, he had written, “Imagine, guys, at her weight, she still wants me to take pictures of her! Where would she even fit in the photo? She hasn’t been the same since giving birth.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. This was the man I loved, the father of my children, mocking me behind my back. I put his phone back and sat there in shock, feeling devastated and betrayed. After some time, my tears dried up, and I felt a surge of anger. I wasn’t going to let him get away with this. I needed to show him that his words had consequences.
I took out my phone and went through the photos I had taken during the trip. I selected the best ones and posted them on Facebook with the caption, “Looking for a new vacation partner. Am I really so unattractive that even my husband doesn’t want to take pictures of me?” Almost immediately, the post started getting likes and supportive comments. Friends and acquaintances chimed in, praising my photos and expressing shock at Luke’s behavior.
When Luke came out of the shower, he sensed something was wrong. “Everything okay?” he asked. “Just peachy,” I replied, still furious and hurt. The next morning, I was packing our bags to cut the trip short when Luke walked in with a bouquet of flowers, looking sheepish. “Hannah, I’m so sorry for everything,” he started. I took the flowers without a word. He continued, “I know I’ve been a jerk. I shouldn’t have said those things. But honey, with your new money, you can hire a trainer and lose weight.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. He thought an apology followed by a suggestion to use my inheritance to change myself for him would make things right? I was overcome with rage and replied, “Maybe I will, Luke. But not so you can ogle at me.” The look on his face was priceless. He had expected me to forgive him and move on. “Luke, I’m divorcing you,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. He began to cry, “Please, Hannah, don’t leave me. I’ve already told my friends I was planning to buy a new SUV to go off-roading with them, and now, without your money, all my plans are ruined.”
It hit me how little he valued me. It wasn’t about our relationship or family; it was about what my money could do for him. “You can find another way to buy your SUV, but you won’t do it with my money or by humiliating me. Goodbye, Luke.” I walked away, feeling a strange sense of relief coupled with sadness. This wasn’t how I envisioned my life, but it was time to take control of my happiness.
I spent the rest of the day making arrangements to return home and start the divorce process. Support from friends and family poured in, helping me regain my confidence and belief in my worth. I realized I didn’t need someone like Luke to validate my beauty or value. I decided to move on with my life, focusing on my kids and myself.
In the days that followed, I started working out, not because Luke suggested it, but because I wanted to feel healthier and stronger. I took up new hobbies, spent more time with friends, and even considered going back to school. One day at the mall, I ran into Luke. He was startled and half-complimented me, saying, “Hey! I almost didn’t recognize you, Hannah. You look different. How are you and the kids?” “We’re doing great,” I replied, not wanting to continue the conversation. “I’m running late, Luke. I have to be somewhere. Excuse me,” I said before leaving.
I was now free to live my life on my terms and feel comfortable in my skin. Rather than mourning my doomed marriage, I was ready to move forward with strength and self-love. So, what do you think? Did I handle things correctly, or was my reaction too overboard? What would you have done differently in my shoes?
