My name is Maria. I am 43 years old and have been married for 22 years. Together, we built a life, raised children, and grew through all the highs and lows that marriage brings. But now, that life feels like it’s slipping through my fingers, like it was a dream I can’t seem to wake up from. A few months ago, I discovered that my husband, the man I once thought would be by my side forever, had found someone else—a younger mistress, even younger than our own daughters.

The shock of it cut deeper than I could have ever imagined. At first, I didn’t want to believe it. I kept telling myself it was a mistake, some kind of misunderstanding, a passing phase. But the truth became impossible to ignore. My husband, the man I’d shared every part of my life with, had chosen to chase a fleeting thrill, a woman with a youth and freedom I can no longer compete with.

The betrayal is overwhelming. I gave him the best years of my life, supported him, raised our children, and built a home filled with memories. Now, I find myself questioning everything. What did I miss? Where did I go wrong? Was I not enough?

But more than that, I feel lost. My daughters are grown now, carving out their own lives, and here I am, trying to make sense of who I am without the stability I thought would last a lifetime. There’s a hollow ache in my chest, and I’m struggling to fill it.

I’m reaching out because I need strength, wisdom, and hope. I know there are women out there who’ve faced similar pain, who’ve had to pick up the pieces and find their own way forward. Help me remember that I am more than this hurt, that I can find a new beginning—even when my heart feels