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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

DH has left, best friend says he loves me, help!

10 replies

WoolyWanderer · 08/01/2013 21:11

I finally kicked my husband out 2 days after Christmas- we had a lot of issues that I have posted about before under different names, and where I was almost universally told to leave the bastard. He suffers from depression but has lied, been verbally abusive, nasty and finally said he didn't love me anymore in April- it has taken until now for me to 'get over him' and find the strength to make a break, and so I have asked him to go. I feel much better, like a weight has been lifted. It is the right thing.

But, a couple of days after I asked him to leave he came and moved out ALL of his stuff, and was angry and horrible to me. It was such a shock, it seemed so final, I held it together until he left, but then I was in bits. I called my best friend (male) in tears and he rushed straight over. We are very close, possibly a little too close as I have confided in him a lot of stuff about my marriage I couldn't tell anyone else. Anyway, after I had sobbed for a while, we drank a bottle of wine and talked for hours, and late into the night when I was rather tipsy, I kissed him. I was just trying to make myself feel better, thinking it would just be fun and mean nothing, stupid but harmless. But it wasn't, it was amazing. Ridiculous, head over heels, thunderclap amazing. I had no idea it was possible to feel this connected to someone.

We talked some more and BF confessed that he loved me. That he has been in love with me since he first met me (6 years ago, the same week I met my husband). He had said nothing, supported me, been there for me, given marriage advice, been the best friend I could ever have wanted because all he wanted was for me to be happy. That it had almost killed him to see me struggling so much. That he had missed out on me once, lost me to the wrong man, and he wasn't going to do it again. I am shellshocked, I had no idea. And I think I might feel the same way. All those things I want, they were right in front of me and I just couldn't see it. And since we kissed I am seeing him totally differently. I am falling for him. This is so unlike me.

But the timing is soooo bad. There is no way we can tell anybody, it's much too soon, and I still don't know how I feel about him. And I think it would be healthier to have some time alone. But on the other hand I have felt so alone for years and really don't want to have to cope on my own anymore. We have agreed to take things slow, to give it six months for me to sort myself out and to keep it casual in that time. But I keep grinning, I should be devastated about my marriage, but I knew that was over a long time ago. Now I am just happy.

I guess I'm asking, can this work out? Am I a horrible person for wanting to be with somebody else so soon? We really don't want to hurt anybody, and we don't want to mess this up since we feel it might be something really special.

OP posts:
HotDAMNlifeisgood · 08/01/2013 21:19

Well done splitting with a man who was abusive and nasty to you.

Have you defined what "keeping it casual" for the next 6 months means in practice?

squeakytoy · 08/01/2013 21:25

If he has waited this long, then I am sure he will be happy to keep it casual for the next few months. He sounds lovely.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 08/01/2013 21:27

Yes it can work out and no you're not horrible. I'm glad you're giving it several months for the dust to settle and you're right, it would be healthier to take some time out to heal and rebalance.

So tread very very carefully because you're only just rid of one abusive man and I worry that people who swoop in with the wine and sympathy are taking advantage of the situation just as much as I worry that newly liberated people like yourself are not in the best position to judge what's 'love' and what's simply 'relief'. Good luck

tzella · 08/01/2013 21:35

Perhaps if he's been able to wait 6 years he can wait another 6 months? You really need to breathe and feel properly free and relaxed before you leap into anything else. Or maybe you don't. Maybe this was meant to be the whole time and it's going to be marvellous

Good luck!

dequoisagitil · 08/01/2013 23:50

I'd be careful. I think that it might be a good idea to get some counselling or do the Freedom programme so that you deal with the fallout from the abusive relationship. Get yourself into a strong emotional state, able to recognise warning signs and set good boundaries.

It's all very romantic-sounding, but you are vulnerable, and white knighting can be an unhealthy thing for both damsel and knight.

Take your time. He may be a good guy and someone you can be with, but there's no rush.

izzyizin · 09/01/2013 00:09

On a note of caution, I suggest you keep any burgeoning relationship you may have with your BF under wraps until you have got divorce proceedings well under way as your abusive h could seek to divorce you for adultery if he gets wind of it.

If you have reason to believe you may qualify for legal aid, you're best advised to institute proceedings sooner rather than later as entitlement to legal aid in divorce matters will be severely restricted in April of this year.

GregBishopsBottomBitch · 09/01/2013 00:56

Keep it as an exclusive casual relationship, you spend time together, only see each other, but arent open about it just yet, as you need a settling down period, take it slow and let it grow, because JAN 14, you might be thinking, i really did marry the wrong man, just enjoy it and let it flow, after your stbexh, you need to breathe,

Autumnchill · 09/01/2013 07:25

I could have written your post, except my husband and I just fell out of love and decided to split. I am now married to my best friend who, like yours, dropped the same bombshell on me.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 09/01/2013 07:31

"your abusive h could seek to divorce you for adultery"

In practice, whether it's adultery or irreconcilable differences, it doesn't make much difference to the outcome.

Wolfcub · 09/01/2013 07:34

I have a very good friend that this happened to, he waited years for her. They are now the happiest married couple I know.

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