My husband and I have been together for 16 years, married for 14.
asserted
husband → marry → 14
I was injured in a bad car wreck 12 years ago, and I stockpiled the leftover pain medicine.
asserted
I → injure → medicine
We scheduled a cruise nine years ago, and I was going to take a few with me just in case.
asserted
I → schedule → case
When I went to get some, they were all gone!
asserted
they → go → some
My oldest son had been staying here for a few months, and my immediate thought was that he may have taken them.
uncertain
he → stay → them
When I confronted my son, he denied it.
asserted
he → confront → it
He also stopped talking to me for months.
asserted
He → stop → months
Every so often I would ask him about it, and he continued to get angry when I did.
asserted
I → ask → it
I recently had two major surgeries, and they sent me home on pain meds.
asserted
they → have → meds
I went to get one about a month ago, and they were all gone!
asserted
they → go → one
I questioned my husband, and he said, “No, someone else must have taken them.”
asserted
someone → question → them
This went on for a few weeks, and I finally figured it out.
asserted
I → go → it
To say the least, I was devastated.
asserted
I → say → least
My trust in him was shattered because he let me blame my son all this time, putting that relationship in jeopardy.
asserted
me → shatter → jeopardy
I left our home and went to stay at a weekend place we own.
asserted
we → leave → place
I made my husband call his parents in front of me and tell them what had happened, because I knew he would otherwise make up some lie about why I left.
asserted
I → make → lie
Even so, I somehow became the scapegoat because I’m not “standing by my man.”
asserted
I → become → man
They fail to recognize that I am the victim here.
asserted
I → fail → ?
He started outpatient rehab two weeks ago, but we have done nothing for our marriage.
asserted
we → start → marriage
Can this trust ever be rebuilt?
asserted
trust → rebuild → ?
— NEEDING DIRECTION IN VIRGINIA
DEAR NEEDING DIRECTION: Let me postpone the answer to your question until after I urge you to apologize to your son.
asserted
I → need → son
You and your son should consider joining a group called Nar-Anon (nar-anon.org).
asserted
You → consider → group
It is composed of people who have been affected by the drug addiction of a loved one or friend.
asserted
who → compose → one
It has meetings everywhere.
asserted
It → have → meetings
Your husband is an addict who has broken your trust.
asserted
who → break → trust
Before deciding whether to continue being married to him, you need to know what that will mean.
asserted
that → decide → what
After initially overcoming his addiction, he may fall off the wagon.
uncertain
he → overcome → wagon
Do not allow your in-laws to guilt you into reuniting with their son.
asserted
laws → allow → son
Your husband would have to be sober for a long time before you can trust him again.
asserted
you → have → him
I have a standing appointment with the hairdresser I’ve been seeing for many years for my cut and style.
asserted
I → have → cut
I highlight my own hair at home.
asserted
I → highlight → home
I’m wondering if coloring at home is considered in poor taste while having your hair cut professionally.
asserted
hair → wonder → taste
If you prefer to color your hair at home, that is your privilege.
asserted
that → prefer → home
You don’t owe anyone an apology or explanation for doing it.
asserted
You → owe → it
If someone you know implied that it is wrong, that person was misinformed.
asserted
person → know → ?
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren.
asserted
Abby → write → Buren
For nearly four decades, Jeanne Phillips penned this column, which was founded in 1956 by her mother, Pauline Phillips.
asserted
which → pen → mother
The Aporia
