Broken hearts

The most misleading phrase in the English language is, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.”

Think about it. You can throw a stone and hit me. Sure, it will hurt for a while but then I’ll be okay. The same can be said about being hit with a stick.

Not so with words. They cut. They cut deep. They penetrate your brain, your soul, your whole being. Those wounds never heal, get septic and before you know it your whole life is contaminated to the point where you debate with yourself whether life is worth living anymore.

After being married for nearly 50 years you’d think you know your wife. Then overnight things start to change. Behaviour patterns baffle you. You ask yourself if you might be going mad. Any attempt to discuss your relationship is met with a “stop being paranoid”.

Then the bomb explodes. She’s having an affair with a guy three years younger than your youngest daughter. The confrontation happens and all you want to know is, why?

The answer? “Well, he’s 10 times a better ‘husband’ to me than you could ever dream to be!”

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

I’ll take sticks and stones any day of the week and twice on Sunday, but words . . . FLATTENED, EMAIL

When a relationship ends the pain cuts deep. My partner and I broke up recently and she left a void in me.

I always wonder why it’s so easy to fall in love but so hard to move on. I didn’t realise it then but I now see I had a diamond in her.

After many months apart I still remember the good times we had together. I have tears in my eyes while writing this.

I have a lump in my throat as I imagine her face looking at me with sadness after I repeated the same mistake I’d promised not to commit.

I regret it all and hope it’s not too late. I truly miss her. I feel lonely.

If she could possibly read this I’d say to her, “My love, please accept my love again. I love you. I want you back in my life. I’m ready to say sorry daily for the rest of my life to have my friend, my lover and my everything back.

“No ego, no fake pride here. I’m on my knees asking for forgiveness. You’re too special for me to lose you over a fight, no matter how big. This man will always love you.” KK BULUNGA, TSHWANE