Divorce.

I remember when I was little, my mom would say that people treated her like a leper after she divorced Dad. From my little kid's vantage point, I couldn't see what she saw, but I believed her because she was my mom. I would get really sad to see her sad. She said people ostracized her in our church, and most of my parents' mutual friends avoided her or made assumptions that allowed for them to keep their distance under the guise of politeness. But is it polite to leave one alone knowing they are crying and sad? When I saw my mom cry, I never left the room. If I heard her cry and was somewhere else, I went to her and gave her hugs and tissues. I told my mom she was really pretty when she cried (which is true). She would laugh for a second and then cry again, but she always thanked me. She never told me to go away or close the door. She never asked for the love or hugs, but she always appreciated it when my brother and sister and I would sneak in to give it. My mom doesn't cry over my dad anymore, but sometimes I catch her remembering the fun times we had together when he was still around, and I am thankful for that.

Nothing lasts forever; neither the relationship nor the pain of its end.