Boundaries
I remember the first time I said “no” to him. EX was accustomed to never hearing a direct refusal from me. Whether it was outings, spending, sex, or favors, he knew any of his requests of me would not get a “no”, at worst he would have to work around my excuses and explanations of why I didn’t want to do something, in order to wear me down enough to agree. One day, I was feeling particularly emboldened. I don’t remember the circumstances that led me to feel so exhausted and spent, but that hardly matters. I knew that I didn’t want to go anywhere that day. So, when he asked me to get the kids ready so we could all go drive into town and do “something” I already knew my answer. Even if I wasn’t feeling depressed, or completely worn out, I knew how these outings always went. I could see it play out just as it had hundreds of times before. I would be the only one getting the kids ready, while EX spent 10 minutes making sure his eyebrows weren't out of place and that his shirt was tigh...