What would you think about this?

[slightlyworrisom]

A couple been married 30 years and always lived in the same village. The couple always looked like bosom buddies when out. Out of the blue the woman moves out and the man looks upset whenever you happen to see him. What would you think had happened?

It really doesn’t matter what people might think happened. Don’t worry about it.

Another here that would assume the woman left because the man was in some way deficient and she'd finally realised or had had enough.

Some people may assume the opposite, but OP, don't give them the mental space, it doesn't matter what anyone thinks.

“Yes I am and getting a little suspicious about what people have been told because the external evidence - me leaving, him upset - looks as though I was the one who caused this.”

Well, yes, that is likely to be how it looks. You’re clearly holding a great deal back from this thread, which is your prerogative. If you left because he mistreated you for years then it may be a bit frustrating to have people think you’re the baddie. But does it really matter? If that is the backstory, presumably your friends know or you can tell them. And tbh probably most people don’t really care either way. Marriages end. There’s no need for unaffected 3rd parties to get involved in the process.

It doesn’t matter what people think.

Most sensible people wouldn’t make assumptions about others’ relationships based on how people look/act when in public.

Why do you care what random people think? As long as you’ve made the best decision for yourself then that’s what matters