They often say that when a man cheats on a woman, it is because he is not satisfied, but I don’t see it. They say men can’t control their lust for any woman, but you had a woman waiting for you at home. They say that’s what they do. Men will be pigs. But what about all the happy couples out there? Surely, the men in those relationships aren’t pigs.

It took me years to realize this. It was never my fault you cheated, but it was yours. I didn’t do a single thing to chase you away. You ran away yourself. I blamed myself, thinking that I wasn’t a good enough girlfriend to keep you around. But I was nothing but good to you. And all you did was hurt me. I begged to have you back and claimed we would work it out, but you wouldn’t admit to still loving me or wanting to fix it. I wailed until my eyes were too heavy to keep open, and then I’d wake up after a short nap just to cry myself back to sleep again. I thought my life would be long and lonely. I went through five tissue boxes before I realized I didn’t do anything wrong. So, if it wasn’t my fault, whose was it? I began thinking that most men are like that. Why not? I was naïve and only had experiences with boys like you. I started thinking that I’d never find anyone who truly loved me. That boys only liked the girls who showed a lot of skin. I hated myself. I hated you. I hated men.

But then I learned. I grew older and more mature. I learned to watch out for boys like you. I learned to respect myself and avoid those who don’t respect me. I found strength in my femininity. I met nice guys and found one that I truly fell in love with. He loves me in ways that you never could. He is faithful and caring and protects my interests. He makes me feel beautiful and sexy and smart and funny. I can be myself around him. I can leave him alone without worrying that he’ll find someone else. We have fun together. We love together. We thrive together. He is my true love. He is everything you never were.

So, in the end, I don’t hate you for what you did to me. In fact, I am grateful that you cheated on me because it makes it all the better knowing that I have someone who doesn’t. Even after all the pain you put me through, you taught me the true meaning of love by showing me what it isn’t. I’m now stronger and more intuitive because of what I went through. I have more respect for myself because of all the times you disrespected me. I know whom to trust because of all the times I couldn’t trust you. And I know what to look for in love because of all the loving qualities you never showed me. Now, I know because I never knew with you.