was 39, married to James, a wealthy entrepreneur whose success was a force to be reckoned with. At 58, he lived and breathed his work, leaving me to fill the quiet spaces of our mansion alone. With our children living abroad, I found myself grasping for purpose and companionship that seemed absent from my life.

One evening, James brought me along to a high-profile gala in Miami. He spent the night mingling with investors and CEOs, while I wandered through the grand hall, feeling like an ornament instead of a partner. After a while, I slipped out and found myself in a small rooftop bar nearby. There, under the city lights, I met Lucas, a charismatic chef who instantly made me feel at ease. We talked about travel, passions, and all the dreams I’d put on hold. In those moments with him, I felt a sense of freedom, a glimpse of the woman I had forgotten I could be.

As I walked back to the gala later, I knew I needed to bring more of that joy and excitement into my life. Meeting Lucas reminded me that I didn’t have to settle for feeling invisible. There was still so much of life left for me to embrace.