I came from a highly emotionally abusive/ manipulative marriage. She isolated me from my friends early on. Then I had kids. And I love those kids. But I devoted my time to them rather than building friendship. Then I was divorced, and my ex who isolated me from my friends used extreme lies to isolate me from the remaining joint friends we had.

Now I am fighting for time with our kids because of said lies. Meanwhile, every time I nearly establish a relationship with another woman, she injects herself until they are intimidated away. All the while she is dating someone else.

She moved our kids against my will to a small rural town where her family are the major movers and shakers. Her cousin is the superintendent for the school system. Half of the teachers are related to her. Most of the local politicians are related to her. I had to move here to be close to my kids. But they, understandably, buy her side of the story. And so I am in a town where everyone thinks these untrue things about me.

I feel so isolate. I feel so alone. And it makes me wonder if truth even matters.

I hate this feeling.