Background - I've been with DH for 18 years. A couple of years before we met I had an accident that left me with a speech difficulties for a few months until physio, speech therapy and natural resolution got it back to normal. My mouth is still affected - pulled to one side like a Bells Palsy - and I'm always very self-conscious about this.
I thought I knew DH well. His mother had several disabling illnesses during the last few years of her life and out life centred pretty much on her needs. I have arthritis and he has always been less patient with my limitations but I'm an independent bugger and it's never really bothered me although there has been a bit of doubt about him because of this.
This morning we were talking about the corner shop I used before I moved to live with him. I mentioned that the whole family were lovely apart from one son who I had a problem with. he problem was that when his mates were in the shop, he'd take the p out of my speech difficulty and pretend he couldn't understand what I said. If I asked for a pint of milk, he'd smirk and hand me a can of peaches, for example.
I never got to the last bit of the story because 'DH' interrupted with 'That's pretty funny, isn't it?' When I said it was actually embarrassing and humiliating, he then said 'But you must see the funny side now when you look back at it'.
I can't speak to him right now and feel as though I've never really known him if he can react like this. If I speak now whatever I want to say will come out as 'I don't want you in my life if that's how you see things' All the hurt and humiliation I felt back then has come back and this time it's my own husband inflicting it.
I don't want to be with this stranger. Am I over-reacting?