I Broke up with My Cheating Boyfriend 5 Years Ago – Today, He Called Me from His Wedding and Turned My Life Upside Down I was surprised by what transpired as I thought about the one who escaped once more.

I don’t know how else to explain it, so perhaps I called this upon myself today by thinking about the past.

I don’t know, maybe fate brought me to this point. I’ll tell you my story; you decide.

The late afternoon sun crept through the blinds, spreading lengthy shadows around my apartment. I sat at my desk, staring at my computer screen’s flickering cursor with glassy eyes. I didn’t notice the work on the screen in front of me since I was lost in my own universe.

The pleasant glow of the day did little to dissipate the fog of melancholy that had descended over me. Even after years, some wounds didn’t seem to go away. Five years have passed since my breakup with David.

Five long years ago when I found out he was cheating on me. I had been someone else, hopeful, in love with David, and looking forward to our future together.

My heart was cut like a dagger by the betrayal. That dreadful day seemed to break my existence into a million pieces.

I cherished him. But I knew I couldn’t stay with someone who had injured me so deeply and broken my life apart.

So I went away and broke up with him. I’ve been attempting to move on ever since, but the scars are still there.

Since our breakup, life had progressed, and I believed I was past it. I graduated from college, obtained a steady and decent career, and acquired a new circle of acquaintances.

Even with these successes, there were still times when the hurt from the past occasionally came back.

Unexpected and unwanted, it appeared out of nowhere. It was like a ghost from the life I nearly had with him, a sudden, acute pain of loss. Today was one of those days.

My phone rang while I was deep in contemplation, and I almost leaped out of my chair!

My heart skipped a beat as soon as I looked at the screen! It was David! My fingers hesitated above the answer button. A mix of curiosity and dread surged within me as my heart started racing. Now, after all this time, why was he calling me?

Taking a deep breath, I did something I probably shouldn’t have… I answered the call. “Hello?” I managed to hold it together as I whispered.

“Hi, Emma,” the response said. His voice had a quiver that suggested something important, yet it was both familiar and unfamiliar.

His tears came to my attention! “It’s David. I… I must speak with you.” A knot formed in my stomach, making me tense. “David? What’s happening?

After a short silence, he said the words that nearly brought me to ruin.

“I’m getting married today,” he blurted out, sounding guilty. My heart fell. His remarks were like a kick to the stomach! “And I only have a few minutes before the ceremony starts, so PLEASE, please don’t hang up,” he begged.

“I’ve been keeping a huge secret about the end of our relationship.” He said, pausing for a moment, “I need to tell you the truth before going through with my marriage.

” I was silent, trying to digest what he was saying. “What truth?” In spite of my better judgment, I asked at last because I was curious.

“Emma, I never cheated on you,” David admitted. “It was all a lie.” It seemed as if the earth had been uprooted from beneath me! “What do you mean it was a lie?” I demanded, my voice rising. “Your parents forced me to do it,” he added.

“They instructed me to tell you a falsehood, that I had cheated. He admitted, “They wanted me out of your life because they believed it was best for you.” “They didn’t want you distracted from your studies or getting too serious about a relationship.”

He sighed as he continued, “They thought you needed to focus on college and not get tied down with a family or… or get pregnant.” David said,

“They threatened to cut ties with you if I didn’t go along with it, and I knew how much you valued your relationship with them.”

His comments were a tidal wave, crashing over EVERYTHING I thought I knew. Within me, anger, bewilderment, and despair vied for supremacy.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” With tears running down my cheeks, I inquired. He said, “I thought I was doing the right thing,” in an emotionally stifled voice.

“I didn’t wish to jeopardize your prospects. But ever since then, I’ve regretted it. I never stopped loving you, Emma.” My thoughts were reeling!

The betrayal I felt five years ago had been a fabrication, manufactured by the very people I trusted most!

David was now contacting me from his wedding to tell me that he loved me! Whispering, “I can’t marry her, Emma,” he said. “Because you are still loved.” I hope you were the one. With a racing heart, I inhaled deeply.

It was unbearable how angry I was at my parents for controlling us and destroying us! But there was also a glimmer of optimism, a chance to recapture the love I thought I had lost forever. “Where are you?” I asked, feeling more determined than ever.

David gave me the address of the church where the wedding was due to take place. Without another thinking, I grabbed my keys and raced out the door! I knew I couldn’t let this moment pass me by, even if I had no idea what lay ahead!

I pulled up to the church, my heart racing in my chest. David was standing outside, his face pallid and his eyes filled with a mix of worry and optimism. His presence evoked a flurry of recollections, both positive and negative!

When our eyes met, in that instant, everything fell into place! Tears were streaming down our faces as we rushed to embrace. He withdrew and whispered, “Emma,” in a shaky voice. “I’m SO sorry.”

“David,” I answered, my voice breaking. “I don’t even know what to say.” I was overcome with feelings. Whispering, “I can’t believe they did that to us,” I said. “Please, listen,” he urged. “I know this is a lot to take in, but I needed you to know that I NEVER stopped loving you!”

I inhaled deeply as I attempted to control my feelings. “David, why didn’t you defend us? Why did you allow them to have such authority over our lives? His face seemed regretful as he looked down.

“Your parents convinced me that I was a distraction,” he said. “I also didn’t want to be the reason you lost your family.” With tears running down my cheeks, I shook my head.

“They had no authority to decide that for us. Together, we ought to have made decisions about our future. “I know,” he muttered.

“And I regret not fighting more for us every single day. But now, Emma, I’m here. I’m prepared to go to any lengths to put things right.

I could feel the sadness and sincerity in his eyes as I peered into them. My heart still hurt for him in spite of everything. “What about her? The one you’re meant to wed today?” David looked torn as he combed through his hair.

“She’s a decent person, but since you have my heart, I can’t marry her. Neither she nor I would be treated fairly. For a minute, we stood silently, the situation’s weight bearing down on us. I moved closer to him at last.

“If we do this, David, it won’t be easy.” With a determined gaze, he nodded. “I understand. I simply cannot fathom my life without you at this point. The moment was interrupted by the sound of the church doors opening behind us.

David’s fiancée emerged with a puzzled and worried expression on her face. “David, what’s going on?” His face was anguished as he turned to face her. “I’m very sorry, Jessica. I am unable to complete this. Another person has my heart.

The bride began to cry since she didn’t take the remarks well. I indicated to David that I would be waiting at my car by touching his hand. I observed their heated conversation as Jessica yanked her hand away from David and fled back into the church.

I felt bad, as if I was to blame for her going through what I had been going through for the last five years. I prayed a little for her. I prayed for her to recover from this terrible circumstance and find strength.

With hope in his eyes, David turned and came toward me. “I realize that this wasn’t the wisest course of action for me to take, Emma. Will you, however, give us another chance? I paused for a second, my thoughts whirling.

But then I reflected on our common love, our past experiences, and the prospect of a future together. I made a decision that empowered me at that very time.

I couldn’t continue to be involved with people who would use me and my life to further their own agenda.

I understood that I had to take control of my life and live it as I saw fit. “Yes,” I eventually answered in a firm voice. “Let’s try to make this work

.” A mixture of relief and delight lit up his face. “I’m grateful, Emma! I swear that I won’t disappoint you.

David said, “We have each other now,” while embracing me. “That’s all that matters.” Together, we left the religion and the lives we were compelled to lead.

With the sun setting and the surroundings bathed in a pleasant glow, David and I climbed into my car and drove away from the church.

As long as we had each other, it didn’t matter where we were heading. Though it was masked by what may have been, the hurt of the past persisted.

For the first time in years, I felt genuinely optimistic about the future, even though I knew we still had a lot of work and healing to do.

Ultimately, my life wasn’t completely upended by the wedding. It was the reality and the opportunity to recover a love that had been taken from us.

I experienced a sensation of freedom and hope that I hadn’t experienced in years as we raced down the highway.

The sun that I had previously appreciated was now gracefully lowering itself behind us. Together, we were prepared to face whatever was ahead and rebuild our relationship one mile at a time.