Two days after their 20-year wedding anniversary, TikToker Kristian’s (@newbeginnings54321) husband asked for a divorce. He told her that he was not in love with her anymore and that he had been unhappy for a long time.
Later that night, she found out that he was having an affair with a coworker. She was 19 years old when they got married, and she is now about to turn 40.
For the last year and a half, her husband has been sober. One night, he went out to a bar with his brother and his best friend. She was terrified that he would come home drunk. The anxiety pushed her to a breaking point.
The next morning, she made a drastic decision. She packed up all his stuff, wrote him a letter, and put everything in the garage. She locked the doors so he wouldn’t be able to get in.
“In the letter, I was basically asking him to do the right thing, and please go stay with someone else because I couldn’t do this anymore,” explained Kristian.
“Like I can’t live in the same house while I am so nervous about him going out and drinking again.”
When he came home and realized he couldn’t get inside, he texted her to let him in. She pleaded with him to leave, but instead, he called the cops. Now, she has to go through family court.
Looking back, Kristian admits that perhaps she could’ve handled the situation a little differently, but she still feels that her concerns were valid and deeply rooted in fear and exhaustion.
In the comments section, countless TikTok users shared similar stories, offering both empathy and perspective. Many had also been blindsided by divorce requests after decades-long marriages.
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Others reassured Kristian that the pain may seem unbearable now, but once she comes out the other side, she will be able to find peace, independence, and even unexpected joys.
“Sorry to hear this. I dealt with a cheating spouse/divorce six years ago after a 20-year marriage. All I can tell you is [that] things will get better. Let them leave and build yourself a better life,” commented one user.
“My husband disappeared three years ago after 25 years of marriage. Three years on, I haven’t seen him and have no idea where he is. He is now openly living with another female and divorced me very expensively. I have to say, I love being single and am really, really happy,” wrote another.
“This is my life. But [the] only difference is we were married for 19 years, and it was the day after our anniversary,” chimed in a third.
“My husband asked for a divorce one month before our 39th wedding anniversary,” stated someone else.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
