Dave used to be the man of my dreams. He was thoughtful, spontaneous, and once drove three hours in a storm to bring me pie from our favorite diner. But after we got married, his warmth turned into cruelty wrapped in humor. The man who once adored me became someone who mocked me for laughs—especially in public. At first, I laughed along, pretending to be the “cool wife,” but inside, every joke was a cut.

It started with flirty comments to strangers and evolved into subtle humiliation. He’d joke about my looks in front of his friends, calling me a “knockout—when she makes an effort.” At a party, he introduced me as a “friend of a friend,” and in front of an old buddy, he pretended to forget my name. Every time I objected, he dismissed me: “It’s just a joke,” or worse, “Only insecure women get jealous.”

The breaking point came at a bar when he told a flirty waitress I was his sister. The waitress laughed. Dave grinned. And something in me broke. That night, I stopped crying and started planning. I told him I had a surprise for our anniversary and took him back to the rooftop restaurant where we had our first date.

I handed him an envelope—divorce papers. Inside, a note read: “You said only insecure women get jealous. This is what a confident woman looks like.” He was speechless. I kissed his cheek and left.

Now, I live in peace. And when people ask about my ex, I smile and say, “I realized I’m funnier without him.”