Before my wife left her abusive ex, she was a nervous wreck. One night she stayed at a nearby hotel. My house is along the bus-route of the bus that goes to that hotel. I told her that I was nuts about her, and if she ever needed help or some place to go then I was here for her.

*<br><br>*Before anyone asks, I already apologized for this to her, over twelve years ago.*<br><br>It was over twelve years ago, and I was in my mid-twenties. I already knew my wife from the bus I take to work. She was riding the same bus, to work as well. We became fast friends and often talked and laughed together. I found her extremely attractive, but she was in a relationship. She started talking about how bad things were with her boyfriend. She was always avoiding his angry phone calls and pretty soon she just wasn't answering them. I was attracted to her and I could see how much pain she was in. So I told her that if she ever needed help, or a place to go, all she had to do was ask. She thanked me and told me she felt the same way.<br><br>One night I was out with some friends drinking and I saw her. We talked and then she told me how she had left her boyfriend and was staying in a hotel. I told her how I was always nuts about her, and that if she ever needed some place to stay, I was here for her. My friends convinced me to go after her, when she left. So I did. I followed her, and when she got to the bus-stop in front of my house I offered her to come in. She told me she was too afraid to go in, and that she "knew" her ex had followed her to the hotel from the bar. I told her that she was safe in my house, that I would keep her safe from everyone.<br><br>She agreed, and later that night I tried to kiss her. She said that she didn't want to but was afraid of what I would do if she said no. I told her that I would never do anything that she didn't want me to do. So she kissed me. We went to my room and had sex. I told her that I loved her, and that I would always be here for her.<br><br>That weekend we went antique shopping and I got her a silver locket. I told her that as long as she wore that locket, she would be safe from anyone that might harm her. She was touched by the gesture and thanked me. She wore that locket everywhere, and still has it.<br><br>In the months that followed I convinced her to not to spend any more money on a hotel. So she moved in with me. Together we made plans for a life. Since we worked for the same company, we figured it would be easier to quit our jobs and move to the country. She was from a small town, and I had always wanted to live in the country. So we cashed out our 401(k) and bought land. We built a small cabin, and it was great.<br><br>After a year, I proposed to her and she said yes. We bought land for her parents in exchange for them helping us build our house. They lived there for a while, but eventually moved away. Over the years we had three kids. I did contracting work on the side, but she got a job in the nearby town. She was happy with her life, and I was happy with mine. We were happy together.<br><br>About eight years ago, she told me that even though she loves me, and she is happy with her life, she never got over the abuse she suffered from her ex. She was in therapy for a while, and today she seems mostly happy. Occasionally I'll notice her being distant for a day or two. I give her plenty of space and eventually things seem to go back to normal.<br><br>I can't help but feel guilty about what happened between us. I told her about how I felt over twelve years ago. Asking her to forgive me. She told me that she forgives me, and that she loves me. But part of me wonders if she would be better off, if she hadn't met me. If only I had given her a chance to recover from what happened to her.