Transcript:
I’m Kristal. I have two daughters, one is 33 years old, and one is 29. I have a three-year old granddaughter and another granddaughter on the way. I like to run, I like to crotchet. I like my job, I like to work. I’m an office assistant. I work in Downtown Raleigh, and I live in Downtown Raleigh. My husband and I were high school sweethearts, which made the divorce even more difficult. We had been together seven years. We were married in 1981, and divorced almost a year ago.
But, anyway, we were in school together, at the same high school, and it was sort of love at first sight, but had what I thought was a happy marriage for many more years. Then I found out about indiscretions, and when I did, we worked through the first one. The second one I couldn’t work through anymore, and I immediately called Rosen. I had suspicions, we were separated. I knew that something was wrong. I was led to believe that I was responsible for the separation, not knowing that there was more behind the story.
The videos on the website were very helpful, and I think that was a big part of my coming to Rosen because I felt like somebody was talking to me. The process moved really quickly. I came in for the initial consultation, and then moved forward with the necessary paperwork to file the official separation agreement.
I did compare Rosen to some other websites, but I felt like the website was stronger. I had worked for a web design company at that time, and I kind of knew what companies looked legit from their website. Again, I felt like the videos were helpful, on the website.
We tried mediation. Rosen facilitated that through another local attorney, and that did not work. No, we did not have to sit in the same room, which was comforting. We each sat in a room, and the mediator went back and forth. Mediation didn’t work for us, but we were able to settle before we went to litigation.
I like to go to the gym. That helps me. I go in the morning. I go in the evening, and that’s my therapy. I think exercise helped me through it. It’s good for the mind. It was a good mental crutch. Like I said, I just pray and run, and just do the best I can every day. Again, I love my job. I’m very thankful for the support I’ve received from my coworkers, and family.
It feels really good to be done with the process. It still of course hurts, because of the many years I had invested in my marriage. But I was told that it would be a relief for the process to be over with, and I didn’t believe that. But it’s true, it’s a relief without the day-to-day challenges, the back and forth. It’s a relief for that to be over with.
I’m not looking for another love. I’m not looking for another relationship. But, yes, I think the change is subtle, I try to look back to where I was a year ago, and things have improved greatly. Again, I’m in a job that I love. I’m living somewhere that I’m comfortable and really like a lot, and so things have really changed for the positive. I know it will continue to go in that direction.
You just put one foot in front of the other because you have to. There’s still pain on the other side, but there’s hope on the other side. Each day is a little more peaceful. I get up in the morning, I run. Just, again, one foot in front of the other. I go to work, where I love to be. I go home, go to the gym in the evenings. I watch a little TV and unwind in the evenings, and there is hope.
