I lied about my height in college and even kept the lie going when I met my wife.

I’m 5’8.5. I was a typical short guy in high school. Always had a few girlfriends of similar height, but was never considered a total catch. I was chubby my first year of college. Never gained the freshman 15, I gained the freshman 35 and started my second year at my heaviest at about 205 lbs. After my first year I started going to the gym and eating better. I went from 195 lbs to 175 lbs. I was pretty jacked for a short guy. I met this girl named Ashley. She was 23, and a senior. I was a second semester freshman and was 18. I went back to her apartment and we hooked up. It was great. She loved my body. She was 5’9. I was honest with her about everything about myself. She was very accepting. The only thing she didn’t like was that I was short. she wanted to be able to wear heels on dates. I didn’t care about that, so I told her I’d deal with it. We dated for the rest of college. We lived together for two years after. I proposed to her. Everything was great.<br><br>On our first date, I lied to her. I told her I was 5’10.5. We went back to her apartment after dinner. I took my shoes off and she never noticed a difference. For the next eight years, I kept up the lie. I’m a software engineer and she got her masters in education after graduating college. She was a middle school English teacher and is now an elementary school librarian. When we went out to eat she always sat in booths. We never went anywhere I’d have to stand next to her. It even got to the point where going to the grocery store I would act like I was getting dizzy when next to her and put my arm around her so she wouldn’t notice how tall she was compared to me. I knew I couldn’t keep the lie going forever. I just hoped she could deal with it and didn’t think I was too short after.<br><br>We went to a specialist after trying to conceive for a year. After a lot of tests she was given a physical in a hospital gown. She had to take off her shoes. She was sitting on the exam table. I was in my shoes standing next to her. The doctor asked her how tall she is. The doctor marked it on her chart and said “5’9”. Then he asked me the same thing. I was getting ready to say 5’10.5. But Ashley looked up at me and said 5’7. My heart was pounding. The doctor marked it on my chart and said “5’7”. I was in shock. Ashley got dressed and we left the office. When we got in the car she just started crying. I thought of all the reasons she was upset. She was worried we couldn’t conceive. She was upset I lied to her. I told her I was sorry. I told her I loved her and it didn’t matter. She was a lot more accepting than I thought she would be. I was prepared for her to leave me. But she just forgave me and said it didn’t matter. We’ve been married for 10 years. She’s never complained about my height. I feel guilty even though she forgave me. <br><br>I wish I could go back in time and tell 18 year old me to just be honest. I should have taken the risk and been up front. But I’m glad I get to wake up next to a 5’9 woman every day.