Jeanne PhillipsDEAR ABBY: My ex is a recovering drug addict. We have a 2-year-old son together. I realized he was using drugs when I was seven months pregnant and all our money was gone.
I stayed with him for a year after I learned about his addiction. That year was the hardest year of my life. Choosing to leave was extremely painful, and I still cry about it every day.
My ex was never the type of addict who nodded off, cheated or had other issues; if it hadn’t been for the money disappearing, we would have had a perfect relationship. He finally went to rehab and seems to be doing well. He still goes to work at a great job, pays child support now and is involved with our son, who adores him. He wants us to get back together.
It has been more than a year since we separated – and I hate to admit this, but I’m the happiest I have ever been. Abby, I feel guilty about it. Even though I love him, he broke me as a person with his lies, and I don’t think I can ever trust him. I love my life with my son, and the thought of us living as a family in one house again makes me sick. I feel ashamed for not wanting to try, and these feelings are crippling.
I told him I want him to move on, but he says he will always love me and will never give up. Do I owe it to him – and our child – to try and work it out? – HAPPIER WITHOUT HIM