I've not spoken to her or seen her since back in May. All spring, I was going to my grandson's ballgames & she'd pointedly ignore & refuse to speak to me. Literally turning her back on me when I'd try to say anything. Same thing at both grandson's birthday parties. I might as well have not been there.

So I quit trying. Quit calling/messaging to ask about the boys. Quit participating in the family chats. I just gave up.

And then she cut T & Meg off as well. There's absolutely no contact there unless they initiate it or unless she wants something.

Before, T had always kept telling me I just needed to "talk to her" but about a month or so ago, he looked at me & said "Now, I get it. There's just nothing any of us can do."

It hurts. So bad. But at the same time, there's peace without her, without constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, without wondering if she's going to take offense at every word that comes out of your mouth, without wondering what lies she's going to come up with next.... And that peace is priceless.