I asked a colleague to pretend to be my boyfriend at my ex-husband’s wedding, but he laughed at me, saying, “Nobody would want to go out with you!” – so my fake date made a face.

My profile reflection.

I changed my clothes because I could still hear Max telling me what I should hide.

Then he announced that he was going to marry Claire.

I could have skipped the wedding, but our daughters were going, and the eldest kept asking me if I would be there.

So I said yes.

Then I looked at the +1.

I wanted Max to see that I was okay.

Perfect.

That’s how I found myself on Monday morning next to my colleague Edward’s office.

“I need a favor.”

He looked up.

“That looks expensive.”

“Come with me to my ex-husband’s wedding.”

“As emotional support?”

“As my boyfriend.”

He stared at him.

“A fake boyfriend,” I added.

“Oh. Much healthier.”

Edward became one of my closest friends during my divorce. He listened to me without trying to fix everything, brought me coffee when the divorce was finalized, and even helped me rewrite an angry message to Max before I sent something I would regret.