Five years post-divorce, I built a life I’m proud of… and now my ex is watching
It’s been five years since my divorce, and I’m happy that my life looks nothing like it did back then.
When my marriage ended, I was a mess for a while. Not dramatic movie-scene level, but the kind of quiet heartbreak that follows you into random moments like grocery stores, Sunday mornings, seeing couples doing ordinary things. I had spent years building a life around someone else, and suddenly I had to figure out who I was without that version of myself
So I worked
A lot
I poured everything into building my business. Nothing flashy, nothing Forbes-worthy, but enough that I’m comfortable now. Bills are paid, I travel almost when I want, I don’t panic when something unexpected comes up, and for the first time in my adult life, I know I can rely entirely on myself
And if I’m being honest, part of that drive came from wanting to prove and mostly to myself that I’d do better without him than I ever did depending on him
We don’t talk. Haven’t for years
But recently, out of absolutely nowhere, he started watching my Instagram stories and follow me on social media
Every single one…
At first I thought it was accidental, but it kept happening. Day after day. And maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I know enough through mutual people to know life hasn’t exactly been treating him well lately
Meanwhile, I’m doing fine. Better than fine, actually…
And now my divorce anniversary is coming up, which sounds strange to celebrate, but in a weird way it feels more like the anniversary of getting my life back.
I’ve been thinking about buying myself something like emerald cut diamonds.. maybe a ring. Not engagement-style, not “waiting for a man” energy and more like a personal milestone piece. Something beautiful that marks how far I’ve come
And yes, I’ll admit it: a tiny part of me likes the idea of posting it
Not because I want him back. I absolutely don’t.
But because there’s something satisfying about knowing the woman he underestimated turned out just fine.
Maybe better than fine.
Petty? Probably.
But after everything that happened, I feel like I’ve earned a little bit of main-character energy