On my third day, just as I was about to leave, I heard a knock on the door. It sent a shiver down my spine. I stood still, worried it was Alexander trying to bother me again.
But to my surprise, it was a woman I had met once at a dinner with Alexander. She introduced herself and got right to the point. She worked at the courthouse. She had seen the divorce papers and knew exactly what I had been through. Her words felt like a hug. She made me feel understood and less alone.
She was there to support me. She wanted me to know that my failed marriage wasn't my fault. But then she hit me with some shocking news. Alexander wasn't just a bad husband; he was also a master at manipulation. He had been married three times before. Each wife had faced their own struggles.
She told me some heartbreaking stories. Alexander's first wife had a mental breakdown and lost custody of their kid because of his lies. His second wife took her own life, and no one really looked into it. His third wife just disappeared. Alexander claimed she ran off with some imaginary boyfriend.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My mind was spinning. The woman painted a scary picture of who Alexander really was. I felt shock, anger, and a strange sense of relief that I had managed to get away from him.
My new friend told me more about Alexander, and everything started to make sense. All four of us, his ex-wives and I, were newcomers in town. We didn't have family or friends around. We all brought money into the marriage, making us easy targets.
I found out I wasn't the first one to leave him. One of his ex-wives walked away too, giving up her chance for money because of the divorce laws here. But I was set on escaping his abuse.
The day before, I went to the bank and learned our joint account was closed. I only had $200 in cash. I needed to find a job fast. Now I understood why Alexander kept me away from my friends and neighbors. He built a wall around me, hiding his past marriages and the abuse he had done.
Everything clicked into place. Alexander was good at playing the loving husband. I worried no one would believe me when I shared what really happened. He controlled our money to keep me trapped. Even when he hurt me, pushing me down or grabbing my shoulder, he did it in a way to avoid leaving marks.
A cold chill ran down my back as I realized just how much he had manipulated everything.
Alexander's plan was to switch from being the perfect husband to the sad, left-behind spouse. Everyone would think I was nuts for leaving such a great guy. It hit me that I had made the same mistake again. I stayed quiet about my problems.
Why hadn't I learned from before? My pride stopped me from admitting my marriage was in trouble. If I had talked to someone, maybe I would have gotten the support I really needed.
But there was no point in being regretful. Alexander would be back soon, and I had to go. I thanked my friend for being brave and telling me the truth, even though it meant risking a run-in with him.
I didn't have a reason to go back to my hometown. It was full of unemployment, and old friends were gone. So, I decided to head to a new place I had visited a long time ago. I crammed into my packed car and drove west.
While I drove, I thought about everything that happened over the last year. It had been a year since I met Alexander, but my life had changed so much. I remembered the good times, and by nightfall, I couldn't wait to cry alone.
Finally, I got tired and fell asleep until morning. When the sun came up, doubts still filled my mind as I got ready to keep going. I was just a day away from my new place. But I could still turn back to my hometown. The choice was still mine.
I reached the end of the motel driveway and felt stuck. Should I go east, where everything was familiar? Or west, where I had no clue? A car horn honked behind me, snapping me out of it. I pulled out and went west. I never looked back.
My problems didn't just vanish. Alexander kept trying to make me look bad. But I found comfort in the kindness of strangers. I made new friends who stood by me, ignoring his attempts to hurt my reputation. I got an apartment and a job, and my new community had my back.
When I moved in, my place was bare. But my neighbors quickly jumped in to help. Each day, someone knocked on my door with gift-furniture, dishes, and pep talks. Their kindness really moved me.
Alexander didn't give up. He sent my new boss lies about me, but they could see the truth. He even sent me crazy letters, making wild accusations. But the best support came from my old neighbors who knew what he was really like.
Their kind words shocked me, just like when my friends showed up after my mom passed away. In that moment, I felt so grateful and validated.
Twelve neighbors reached out to me. They shared their concerns about Alexander. They had seen our perfect marriage, but they were worried based on his past relationships. Many said they felt intimidated by him. They hoped to warn anyone he might try to hurt next.
Now, I've finally found happiness in my new home and job. I feel free in a way I didn't think possible after taking care of my family. My anger towards Alexander has turned into pity. As he grows older, he'll face life all alone, without anyone around him.
One evening, I went grocery shopping. On my way to my car, a young man came up to me. He asked a few questions, so I asked him to introduce himself. He said his name was Gabriel Wood. He was a lawyer who had worked on my father's case. He had been looking for me for over a year and was glad he finally found me.
Gabriel bought me a coffee and we sat to talk. He explained that my father had sued the bank before he died. He wanted justice for the wrongs they did to him. The bank probably thought my father wouldn't have the money to fight back, but Gabriel thought we could reopen the case. If we won, it could change our lives.
I was shocked because my father had never told me about any court case. Still, I let Gabriel know that I supported the idea of reopening it.