I have been married for 26 years. I have two children, a 10 year old son and a 16 year old daughter. I thought I was "happily" married. I had it "all". A career, a house on the hill, lots of friends.

I met a woman at work (I'm a teacher). We became friends. Had some drinks. She was also a previous colleague of my husband's.

I began to feel attracted to her emotionally and physically after getting to know her. I had never been attracted to or been involved with a woman before. It shook my world. I thought perhaps she was a lesbian although she is also married with one child. I wanted to be around her all of the time.

She was getting to know my children. We went a lot of places together although my husband didn't like it. Before last Christmas, she arrived at a staff party at my house. I was elated that she was there.

Late into the evening we were in the hallway outside the bathroom. I pushed her in and shut the door. It was dark with only a candle burning. I put my arms around her in an embrace. She looked at me with surprise and asked if I had been with a woman before. I said no and when I asked her if she had, her answer was yes. She gave me my first soft woman to woman kiss.

After she left, I was frightened, yet knew it was right for me. We continued to spend more time together, becoming closer emotionally and physically.

We went skiing with some women friends at a ski resort for her birthday and had a party for her at a friend's condo. These are friends I have known for 15 years; they have known her for only a year and a half. On one of the weekend days, we rented a hotel room and spent the afternoon there.

My husband, who was suspicious already of our relationship, called the local hotel and found out that my friend had a registered room and that she had checked into it for the afternoon. He arrived at the ski area the next morning, accused me and I denied the relationship. However, on the way home, my partner and I discussed the situation and I knew the only way I could deal with it was to tell him the truth.

I told him that night. He was devastated.

Since that time, I have moved out, have my own place that my kids spend every other week with me at and my husband has filed for divorce.

Needless to say, it is a nasty divorce, has been hard on the children and I have received no support from him since I moved out. I have an excellent lesbian lawyer and hope to reach a finality to our divorce soon.

My partner (who is in the process of separating from her husband) and I have come out to our children, husbands and many friends. In my case, I have to say my friends certainly have not been supportive or accepting. They know my husband as a "wonderful" man, father and colleague. They don't understand it. They don't know how hard I have tried to make my marriage work.

I live in a relatively small town and have been ostracized from the social group I once was involved with. It is sad. I'm lonely but I know it won't be forever.

My partner and I plan to live together