Author’s Note: Every one of my women with spunk stories are true stories, narrated to me by the women who went through these challenges in life, and overcame them with sheer grit and determination. Names have been changed to protect their privacy.

She is the first women of spunk I wrote about. Her story gave me the impression of someone who had been burnt into ashes by betrayal and false hopes. I imagined she would rise again like the legendary bird, the phoenix, and live life with a renewed hope and purpose.

Here is a link to her story if you would like to catch up with her tale before you read on.

Over three years have passed since I was privileged to tell her story to the world. In the years to follow, Phoenix’s husband continued his philandering ways, stalking younger women, luring them out for dates and outings with false representation (he would tell them he was their age and he had enough ammunition through chats and photos before they met, ensuring their silence).

Things finally came to a head when he targeted a neighbour’s friend and she approached Phoenix for support and help against her husband. He was stalking the neighbour’s 21-year old friend, giving false information about his age and his marital status. After a lot of text exchange, she had finally convinced him to meet her and was taken aback to see a man close to her father’s age. She wanted to immediately end whatever this was, but he threatened her with exposure, constantly making fake IDs and posting sleazy comments on her Instagram. He even created fake pictures of them together in questionable circumstances and threatened to make them public.

Phoenix knew she had to protect the girl and not let her husband ruin this young woman’s life. It was the first time she realised the full extent of her husband’s wandering and stalking. Until now she would become aware of the occasional flirty message or sleazy comment sent to even her friends and work colleagues. But this was a whole new level of disrespecting and stalking women.

In addition, for the first time in her struggle, the tables were turned. The girl came forward courageously and Phoenix had all the proof she needed to initiate divorce proceedings.

The girl wanted to report the entire matter to the police and bring them home, but Phoenix requested her for a few days time to sort out this sordid mess. Her son was studying for his exams and she didn’t want this new turn of events to affect his focus on the exams.

Instead, she confronted her husband with all the evidence. Phoenix reminded her husband of the laws related to sexual abuse and the possible consequences he would have to face if the girl went to the police. For possibly the first time in his life, her husband realised how dangerous it would get for him and immediately agreed to stop stalking the girl. He also agreed to start divorce proceedings immediately, something he had never agreed to until that point, having gotten used to his wife providing for him.

Finally after years of trying to separate from her husband, Phoenix was granted a divorce last year.

She lives a full life now, full of hope and positivity. Sometimes, it takes the departure of one person to make the family complete.

Today, with a wonderful son who shows all promise of becoming an amazing cook like his mother, a job where she is respected and appreciated for what she brings to the table, friends who have amazing adventures together, and a loving dog for a pet – Phoenix’s life is finally complete.