My ‘Perfect Christian Fiancé’ Had Rules for Me That He Didn’t Follow Himself — The Day I Caught Him Kissing Another Woman Broke Everything
When Hazel met Elias at Bible study, she was 25 and craving stability. He was 27, scripture-quoting, calm—promising a godly life. She ignored red flags: his conditional praise, disdain for “flashy” women.
Soon came the “guardrails”: no kissing, no tight clothes, skirts below ankles, minimal makeup. No male friends, worldly media, or work after marriage. She’d stay home, pray twice daily. Hazel complied, boxing jeans, deleting playlists, ditching friends—believing obedience was love.
Engaged, she shrank: tidy buns, shapeless blouses, silenced laughs. Elias scolded her for giggling at Bible trivia, claiming it drew attention.
Doubt crept in—his secretive phone buzzes. Then, walking home from book club, she saw him: passionately kissing a “flirtatious” barista on church steps, hands intimate, laughter easy.
Confronted, he blamed her “distance.” She ended it. His hypocrisy unraveled via church investigation; his mother begged mercy. Hazel returned the ring.
Grief hit, but freedom followed. She reclaimed music, clothes, voice. Met Matthew: faith shared joyfully, no rules. She laughs loud, cooks spicy hake, signs up for writing workshops.
Hazel chose truth over pretense, herself over shrinking. (198 words)
