Two weeks after Megan’s cruel departure, I felt I was at a place where I could cope with my turmoil. I decided to drive three hours to see my mom and dad. Both of my brothers and my youngest sister were there as well. We visited for a few hours over dinner while I convinced everyone I was good. No one believed it, but I was glad they pretended to be satisfied.

Dad was Dad. He had little to say but his eyes betrayed his love for me and deep anger toward Megan. I imagined in his mind he was considering organizing a biblical stoning of the guilty woman. Mom tried to avoid talking about Megan at all. I think she would still like to get a pound of flesh from the woman that hurt her boy. My brothers and sisters all wanted to hug me and pound Megan to a pulp. The hugs and affection really did feel reassuring, and my visit home made me even more thankful for having a loving family.

As I drove home from my parents, plans for my future started to form in my brain. I decided Megan’s actions set the stage for me to evaluate lots of things in my life. She forced the big change. Now, I was going to determine how things would go in other key areas of my life.

The first on my mind… I had a job I loved with a company I couldn’t stand. My direct supervisor was a prime example of the “Peter Principle.” He was in over his head and tried to cover his shortcomings with bluster, bad attitude, and constant ridicule of his charges. I started the New Year with a new life, and I wouldn’t be held back by working for fools. I was headed out on my own. Those were heavy-hearted days in my life, but I felt a great weight lifted off of me as I organized my future.

As the months passed, Bobby and Sarah continued to keep me secure through their friendship. I said it before, but if you Googled “perfect friends,” they were the benchmark that popped up on the screen. I didn’t have dinner with them every night, but Friday became a regular time together along with weekend gatherings. Since I was no longer a “couple,” many of the other couples that Megan and I used to hang with drifted away. I sort of expected that.

I noticed a trend in my visits with Bobby and Sarah. They both found time to pull me aside to tell me about some great woman that I should ask on a date.

“Would you two match-maker-wannabes please stop? I’m not ready to date yet.”

Sarah looked hurt. “Ben, you’re not the type of guy that can be alone. We just want you to be open to finding somebody new.”

“I know your hearts are in the right place, but it’s too soon for me. And now that I’m starting my own business, I can’t spare the time to do a lot of trial dating. I’ll know when I’m ready and I’ll be more open to your suggestions. But for now, let nature take its course.”

I was twenty-seven years old and was not planning to be a life-long bachelor, but my trust in the fairer sex was deeply shaken. I wanted to be sure not to bring too much of that baggage into the next phase of my love life.