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Some relationships aren't made to go the distance no matter how much either party tries to make things work. According to the CDC, the 2020 divorce rate was 2.7 for every 1,000 people. The number is down by nearly 12%, but it's still a lot of broken relationships. For one man who posted to Reddit's "Am I the A**hole (AITA)" forum, the marriage led to a pregnancy despite their eventual breakup. Then, things got very complicated.
"I and my ex divorced 5 months ago because she came out as lesbian. I didn't want the baby when she came out to me because I felt it would be awkward for us to coparent and I didn't want any contact with her," the man known as "u/gomma_ba" wrote in the viral thread. "However, she wanted to keep the baby so I accepted her decision and didn't talk about it anymore."
He continued: "A few weeks ago, the baby was premature by nearly 2 months and turned out to be still born. I was in a business meeting so I texted her saying I was sorry for her loss and had flowers sent to her."
The man explained that the woman's girlfriend and her family have called and texted, "saying that I'm a heartless jerk for not going to meet her at the hospital after such a traumatic experience."
He added: "My ex called me and said that I must be really happy that I got what I originally wanted. To be honest, although I feel sorry for her loss, I am relieved that we don't have to stay in contact with each other anymore and I can move on from her."
He took to the forum to ask if he's in the wrong and as it turns out, the internet is divided.
"NTA. You sent flowers and everything, and people haven't accepted that you're no longer married. They need to get ot through their heads that you're no longer married, even though she hasn't got a new man. Hetero norms can be stifling sometimes," Mayotroll said.
"NTA. There isnt anything wrong with not visiting someone who you had already planned on not having in your life anyways. You acknowledged the loss. Sent flowers. Sounds like what any decent person would do for someone who is an ex and isn't even 'in your life' technically. Anything beyond that sounds like they just wished and had expectations of their own. Not your fault she wanted more from you... A now ex. They'll get over it," Organic-Pipe-86 wrote.
"Hmm... I'm conflicted. I'm going to say NTA though. He didn't want a child with someone who cheated on and him and then feel forced to have a life connection to that person. No one wants that," HadesSlytherin said, in part.
Ok_Perspective_9796 added, "She probably wanted to grieve with you . . . Since you were the father . . . And she's sad. Giving birth to a stillborn is the saddest most traumatic thing."
The post garnered over 10,000 upvotes and 1,600 comments at the time of this article.
