I admire your honesty in sharing your story. While I did learn from it, I just can't help but think you were used. Perhaps you believe it was healthy and the best one you've ever been in, but I don't think there's anything healthy in an affair. He fulfilled your physical needs while he gets to keep the convenience of being his wife's husband and his child's father. If he truly loved you, like you believed, he'd leave everything behind just to be with you — even if that means a costly divorce and a stressful custody battle.

I understand that after a traumatic relationship, seeking connection feels like the first thing you should do, but getting out of an abusive and traumatic relationship doesn't give you the excuse to disrespect yourself and bring down your value. Yes, you may have wanted it. But where did it take you, in the end? Just right back to where you began.