I caught my wife in her affair last July and she filed for divorce and moved away immediately. Our next hearing isn't even until June, and even then I don't know if it will be the last one.

After spending the last seven months hating my life and feeling worthless and ugly, I met someone. We started spending more and more time together, and this morning we decided to officially declare it a relationship.

As I was driving home from her place, however, it hit me really hard in a way I wasn't prepared for. It dawned on me that I'm in a new relationship and I have to really move on from my wife now more than I had. I thought I had, but I started bawling my eyes out at the thought of things truly being over and giving up a tiny shred of hope I didn't realize I was holding onto that she was still mine and would come back. Outwardly I knew it was over and done, but I guess subconsciously I wasn't ready to accept it.

As an adult, dating is different than it was as a kid. Different things matter, and the stakes are higher, but I really appreciate the difference in emotional maturity I feel in myself and see in my new girlfriend. She was so understanding that my divorce is fresh and the hurt is still real despite my knowing the marriage is over. She was so calm about it all, and understood that I may not 100% be ready for a serious relationship, but that I also really do care for her and want to be with her romantically.

Anyway I just wanted to share that and hear some encouragement and advice from other men who maybe understand these feelings and know what I'm experiencing.