I was dating a guy for about 3 years. We met at work. He was stationed (he was military) halfway across the country. Before he moved, he proposed to me and I said yes. So, we had a long-distance relationship. There were times I’d call him and he wouldn’t answer, which happened constantly (I was pretty insecure). He’d always say his battery died. I would tell him I’d like to come and visit, but he’d tell me, oh, just wait a couple months and then we’ll go visit Vegas together.

I called his parents and asked if they knew about the proposal, and they said nope, he never mentioned it. I knew he had to be cheating on me, and he was just stringing me along. I even had his ex-wife’s number (I forget how) and she said “sounds like he’s stepping out again.” Apparently! When he came to visit me, I found some dice in his car with actions on one die (kiss, blow, suck etc) and areas of the body on the other (you can imagine what those would be). When I called him once at work, the guy who answered said in the background “is that the one who wrote you a letter?” And I could hear T. shushing him - I wasn’t the “one who wrote him a letter” that was some other chick. I knew what the bastard was doing and I was getting furious, but I stayed oh so calm, acting like I still loved him and wanted to visit soon.

Turns out, T. was cheating on me when we basically first met, with girls from work. He was about 36 or so, and these girls were 17–18 - he liked them young. The boyfriend of one of the girls found her journal detailing the things T. and she would do when closing the store alone together. Another time, a coworker told me T. and one of the girls were at a fast food restaurant together, during the day, while I was at school. And, I went onto a forum for support of those being cheated one - yes, they exist. People would offer to check things out for you to confirm your suspicions if you lived too far to check things out yourself. One of these wonderful ladies offered to help me by seeing if he was seeing anyone else. I gave her his address and described his car, and sure enough, she told me she saw him in the car with some little blonde chick. I wanted revenge and starting making a plan.

For a bit of background, I had adopted a beautiful Australian Shepherd named Boomer, and my ex, we’ll call him T., was keeping him. When my suspicions about T. cheating on me started to materialize, I had Boomer’s AKC papers registered in my name. I was putting the plan in place and it was the best thing I have ever done.

It was exam time, and I told my professors I needed to get this guy out of my life. He was abusing me emotionally and verbally - he would yell at me and get in my face when I confronted him about my suspicions when he would visit. They let me go and make up the exams later - I am ever so grateful. This was consuming my life and I needed to move on.

I drove out there, a 20 hr drive, and he was away at work. I entered the apartment through the unlocked balcony door (it was on the 1st floor) and waited for him to come home from work, on the premise that I had come to surprise him with a visit. He was surprised, all right. I acted as if nothing was wrong. If I had told him my plans, he would’ve yelled and screamed at me and honestly I was afraid of his reaction, so I stayed quiet and kept up the facade of the loving fiancee. We even went to dinner. So lovely.

The next day, he went to work. I called him at work and asked him if he was coming home on his break, and he said no. So, I jumped into action. I grabbed all of my things and packed the car. I took my beloved dog and off we went.

I crossed the state line and called him and told him I left him. It was the greatest feeling in the world! He was floored! Innocent, sweet little me, why would I leave such a great guy? He called me over and over and over again. It was great. He called the cops on me, demanding that I bring back his things - oh, you mean MY dog in MY name and the laptop you gave me as a gift? Fat chance, bastard. Sure enough, a cop car started following me - he had called them on me. I pulled over and stopped at a fast food place, and so did they. I took my dog out, let him do his business, cleaned it up and walked right by the cop car back to my car. There was nothing they could do, I had crossed the state line. So, off I went, back home with my dog.

What’s really funny is that he told me the night before about a guy at work who came home to find out his wife had left him, took everything after finding out he was cheating on her. I acted concerned, “gee, how terrible for him!” Hilarious!

I came back home and had a rebound relationship with someone I met from school. My ex called on New Years saying he was thinking of me. Tough crap, douchebag. I hung up on him. My “rebound” and I are getting married, 13 yrs after our first date. My beloved Boomer died of cancer after a few years, but I am so grateful to have had those years with him.

I never knew I had it in me to stand up for myself. I was a pushover and had no self-confidence. I had no feeling of worth that told me “you do not deserve this.” I don’t know what triggered me to leave him finally. Now though, more than ever, if someone messes with me, I will make them regret it. I’m also living proof of the saying “the best revenge is living well.” I’m so better off now, you bastard. I was too good for you.