I’m 41 and have never cheated on my wife, but before I met her, I was no saint. I’d never had a serious girlfriend and lived the carefree life of a single man.

Im forty-one now and Ive never cheated on my wife. Before we met, though, I cant pretend I was some saint. Id never had a serious girlfriend and I lived very much as a single man. I was freedating one woman, then another, weekend parties, Friday night drinks. No explanations owed to anyone because I hadnt made promises; I simply enjoyed my independence.
Back then, I worked in an electrical repair shop and earned enough to get by. After work, my mates and I would hit the pubs and clubs, celebrate birthdays, or just unwind. Sometimes, Id spend the night with someone and disappear from her life the next morningnot out of malice, but because I wasnt seeking anything lasting. I always insisted commitment wasnt for me.
Everything changed the day I met my wife. She was an intern nurse at St. Marys Hospital in London. I was there to sort an electrical fault. She asked me to fix a broken socket and we started chatting, exchanging names and laughing over silly jokes. As my shift finished, she slipped me her phone number. That evening, I texted hernot with cocky flirting, but with nerves, like a teenager.
Our first dates were simple: strolls through Hyde Park, sharing ice cream, grabbing fish and chips after work. Gradually, I stopped noticing other womennot because she made me, but because I genuinely didnt want to spread my attention anymore. I realised she wasnt just another date.
When I asked her to be my girlfriend, I was frank: If we start something, lets do it properly. I dont want anything halfway. She replied, serious as ever, I dont share. And I said, Nor do I. From that moment, faithfulness wasnt just about ignoring other womenit was about keeping my word.
We married without any extravagance. We rented a small room in Manchester, borrowed a bed and had just a little cooker. She pulled overnight shifts at the hospital, I took extra hours at the shop. We were exhaustedwith bills to pay and dreams to sharebut adventure wasnt on the cards. There was no glamour, just reality and unity.
Temptations came along, though. A colleague at work started texting me late at night, sending casual photos, telling me I deserved more than a tired wife at home. One night, she waited for me in the car park and suggested we go to a hotel. I simply said no, got in my Ford, and drove straight home.
At another friends party, a drunk woman sat beside me, touching my arm. I got up, found my wife, and we left without any excuses. Id rather look rude than cross a line I could never erase.
My mates tease me, saying Ive gone from living lively to being dull. Theyre right; Im not the bloke I used to be. I lived for myself before. Now, I live withand forsomeone else.
Recently, my son asked me if Id ever been with other women since marrying. I told him, No. He was surprisedsaid most of his friends parents live apart because of cheating. That struck me: my choices shape not only my marriage but my children, too.
I was a ladies man when I was free because I never made promises. The day I chose her as the woman to grow old with, I realised loyalty isnt a prisonits a daily decision. And even now, I dont regret choosing her every day.