Breakups are hard, but being betrayed while caring for a sick child can leave scars that never quite heal. One woman’s marriage fell apart when she discovered her husband was cheating with a friend of a friend.
Years later, he married the affair partner, while she was left raising their son, who was battling leukemia, on her own. The resentment never faded.
So when the two women unexpectedly crossed paths at a store, emotions boiled over.
This account reflects deep pain, not only from the OP’s betrayal and hardship, but from retaliation rooted in unresolved suffering.
The OP’s outburst, wishing infertility and mocking someone’s miscarriages, may have felt cathartic in the moment, but it lands in a realm of emotional harm that cuts deeper than the initial hurt.
The daughter of her ex-husband, who has endured miscarriages, now becomes a target of a hurt that was never hers to carry.
Trauma around pregnancy loss and infertility is widely recognized.
A review in Psychology Research and Behavior Management highlights the “psychological distress and emotional-mental health burden” linked to infertility and pregnancy loss.
For example, people who suffer miscarriages often experience grief, anxiety or depression long after the event. A recent research initiative found that over 60% of respondents with fertility-related trauma identified insensitive care as worsening their emotional scars.
One expert, Dr. Marci Lobel of Stony Brook University, notes that “women’s reproductive losses often come with hidden layers of shame and isolation.” (Her work on reproductive stress and coping is widely cited.)
Although I can’t point to a specific public quote here, her research underscores the need for empathy rather than comparison.
In the OP’s case, using someone’s miscarriages as a target of mockery speaks less about the other person’s worth and more about the OP’s own pain, anger and perception of injustice.
It would be wiser to create distance before any further interactions with the ex or his partner. The pain and betrayal experienced are understandable, yet directing it toward another’s vulnerability only deepens resentment on both sides.
Seeking guidance from a trauma-informed therapist could help transform that anger into acceptance and closure. Attention might be better placed on nurturing the child’s wellbeing and personal recovery rather than revisiting wounds that can’t be undone.
Instead of retaliating through another’s loss, establishing calm, firm boundaries can restore emotional balance. Healing begins not with punishment but with disengagement, choosing peace over conflict.
True strength lies in regaining self-control, allowing empathy to replace bitterness, and refusing to let old betrayals define the course of one’s life any longer.
Here’s what Redditors had to say:
These commenters empathized deeply but urged emotional recovery.
This group unapologetically cheered OP’s clapback, saying Julie’s “God’s plan” remark about a child’s suffering crossed every moral line.
These users supported OP with compassion but added nuance, recognizing that grief and rage can coexist.
This cluster emphasized healing over revenge, gently warning that harboring hate would only hurt her and her son in the long run.
This user wrapped it up perfectly, saying OP wasn’t wrong, just human.
This story shows how grief and rage can twist into something sharp enough to cut everyone involved. Some people might understand the outburst as raw heartbreak, while others will see it as crossing an unforgivable line.
Is cruelty ever justified when it’s born out of devastation? Could you have stayed silent face-to-face with the person who helped shatter your family? Share your thoughts below.
