I became a single mother when my son was 2. His father's drinking had spun out of control. He had become aggressive, bitter, nasty and untrustworthy. I spent the next 5 years trying to do the best I could for my son while also maintaining his relationship with his father. He gave up the drink, and for the most part was a very good dad to my son, who of course, with all his innocence adored his father. Then he would fall off the wagon every year or so and cause lots of hurt and drama in the process. I had no time to think about me or my needs outside of all of this. I had no confidence. I was completely broken. I often cried myself to sleep. Feeling eternally alone.
Then one drunken night I shared a kiss and a little more with a guy I worked with on a staff night out. At 25, he was 6 years my junior. I woke up feeling silly and a little humiliated, wondering would I be the talk of the canteen in work on Monday. Instead, to my surprise, no one knew. Coffee break was a little awkward but his beautiful brown eyes were smiling. That day we began texting back and forth and made plans for me to go over to his apartment. A few hours and a whole lot of wine later he confessed that he had been in love with me for months. Me. The single mother with all the drama in her life. Who would want to walk into that? This guy is gorgeous. Tall, dark, handsome and insanely funny. He took care of me. He made me laugh til my stomach hurt. He built me up and gave me back so much of myself that I had lost with kindness and love. Every day he would tell me I'm beautiful. Fast forward to this day, a year and a half later, where I can hear him in the other room with my son, the pair of them belly laughing while they play together. My son looking up to him with eyes full of love and adoration. His role model. His best friend. His confidante. And I am grateful. Grateful beyond words for this man. For that drunken hook up. Good guys do exist. And I'm never letting this one go.