Her jaw tightened. «It’s been harder than I expected. The hours. The money. Everything. I realize now that I gave up the best thing in my life for a career that’s not what I thought it would be.»

I leaned against my truck and crossed my arms. «So let me understand this. When you thought you were going to be wealthy and successful, you threw me away like garbage. Now that reality has hit and you’re struggling, suddenly I’m the best thing that ever happened to you.»

«That’s not how it was.»

«That’s exactly how it was. You said it yourself. You didn’t need me anymore. I was ‘helpful’ during school, but that chapter was over. Remember?»

She looked down at the ground. «I was wrong.»

«Yes, you were. About a lot of things.»

«I know I hurt you, but we can fix this. We had something good before medical school took over everything. We can have that again.»

I almost laughed. «We never had anything good. I had 8 years of being your personal support system while you chased your dream. You had 8 years of free financial and emotional labor while you figured out your career. Those are two completely different relationships.»

«That’s not fair.»

«Fair? You want to talk about fair? Let me tell you what’s been fair. You got exactly what you asked for: a fresh start with no dead weight. I got exactly what I deserved after 8 years of being taken for granted: a life where I’m valued.»

«I value you. I always valued you.»

«You valued what I provided. There’s a difference.»

She stepped closer, and I could see tears starting to form in her eyes. «I love you. I’ve always loved you. I just got confused about priorities.»

«No, you didn’t get confused. You got honest. For the first time in 8 years, you told me exactly what you thought of me and our marriage. The only thing that’s changed is your circumstances.»

«People change. I’ve changed.»

«Have you? Or are you just desperate because being an adult is harder than you expected?»

She was quiet for a long moment, then tried a different approach. «What can I do to prove that I’m different now?»

«Nothing. Because I’m different now too.»

«What do you mean?»

«I mean I’m not the same man you discarded 3 years ago. That guy who worked double shifts to pay your bills? He’s gone. The guy who accepted being called ‘dead weight’ and ‘helpful’? He doesn’t exist anymore. You’re talking to someone completely different.»

«I don’t believe that. People don’t just become different people.»

«Sure they do. Especially when they’re forced to rebuild their entire life from scratch.»

«Want to know what I’ve learned in the past 3 years?»

She nodded.

«I learned that I’m actually pretty good company when I’m not constantly worried about someone else’s stress levels. I learned that I have interests and hobbies that don’t revolve around medical school schedules. I learned what it feels like to have conversations that don’t end with someone complaining about professors or rotations or board exams.»

Her face was getting redder with each point I made.

«I learned that when you date someone who has their own career and their own money, relationships become partnerships instead of charity cases. I learned that mutual respect is actually possible when both people contribute equally.»

«You’re dating someone?»

«I’m engaged to someone.»

The words hit her like a physical blow. She actually stepped backward and put her hand to her chest. «Engaged?»

«3 months ago. We’re getting married in September.»

«But… we’re still married.»

«No, we’re not. You divorced me, remember? Signed papers and everything. Very efficiently handled, actually.»

«I mean, we could still… if you wanted to try again…»

«I don’t want to try again. I want to continue moving forward with someone who chose me when she had options. Not someone who only wants me back because her other options didn’t work out.»

She was crying openly now. «This isn’t how this was supposed to go.»

«How was it supposed to go? You were supposed to show up after 3 years, apologize for treating me like garbage, and I was supposed to gratefully accept you back into my life?»

«Yes… No… I don’t know. I just thought… if I could find you and explain…»

«You thought I’d be sitting around waiting for you to realize your mistake. Like I was just on pause until you decided you needed me again.»

She didn’t answer. But the expression on her face confirmed exactly what she’d been thinking.

«Here’s the thing you never understood about me. I don’t wait around for people to figure out my value. When you threw me away, I took you at your word and moved on completely. The man you’re looking for is marrying someone who appreciates him from day one.»

«I could appreciate you now.»

«Too late. Someone else already does.»

I opened my truck door and got in. She stood there watching me, probably hoping I’d change my mind or offer some kind of hope for reconciliation.

Instead, I rolled down the window and gave her one final piece of advice. «Next time you find something valuable, try not to throw it away just because you think you’ve found something better. Most people only get one chance to make that mistake.»

I drove away, leaving her standing in the Home Depot parking lot with the same expression she’d had three years ago when I’d signed the divorce papers. The difference was, this time she understood exactly what she’d lost.

Two weeks after the Home Depot encounter, she made one last desperate move. She showed up at my workplace again, this time with a different story. She told our receptionist she was a doctor with «urgent medical information» about my health that required immediate discussion.

My supervisor called me into his office. «Your ex is back. This time, she’s claiming medical emergency. Should I call security?»

«Actually, let me handle this one personally.»

I walked to the lobby where she was waiting, still in scrubs from what was probably a night shift. She looked even worse than before, like she’d been surviving on nothing but coffee and false hope.

«Medical emergency?» I asked.

«I needed to see you.»

«And you thought impersonating a doctor with urgent health information was the appropriate way to do that?»

«I am a doctor.»

«You’re also a liar. There’s no medical emergency, is there?»

She shook her head, tears starting again.