'First love never dies?'

Dear Tita,

Before we met, my husband Jerry (not his name) was engaged to Maggie (not her real name), his beautiful college sweetheart. He was madly in love with her and was bent on marrying her. But all his plans went awry when Maggie went to work for a multinational company in Manila. She fell in love with her handsome Australian boss. So she broke off with Jerry and went with her boss to Australia to get married. Jerry was devastated. He couldn't believe that the woman he loved, could jilt him just like that. It took a long time before he got over it.

When I met Jerry, he was just getting over his broken heart. We hit it off right away and before long, our friendship blossomed into love. After a whirlwind courtship, we decided to get married. Jerry told me of his sad experience with his first love and I felt sorry for him. He assured me that he was no longer in love with Maggie as he was now in love with me. We settled down to a happy married life with our two adorable children.

Last Christmas, I heard that Maggie came home from abroad. She was now a widow as her Australian husband died the year before. Friends told me that she was as beautiful as ever. She wanted to get in touch with her old friends after being away for ten years. A friend of mine reported to me that Maggie was looking for Jerry as she wanted to give him a gift which she brought from abroad. I found out from Jerry's secretary (who is my eyes and ears), that Maggie paid him a visit in his office and stayed for an hour. When Jerry came home that evening, I noticed that he was unusually animated and happy. I suspected that it could be because Maggie visited him. But when I asked him about her, he brushed it aside and said that it was nothing.

Maggie has already left for abroad after spending her holidays here. Somehow, I can't help feeling jealous of their meeting. I think she still has feelings for him, otherwise why should she come to visit him with a gift. Frankly, I'm feeling insecure. Is it true that first love never dies? What should I do?

INSECURE WIFE

Dear Insecure Wife,

Stop torturing yourself needlessly. You have a happy marriage with a man who loves you. What is past is past. I don't think Jerry would still have feelings for a woman who dumped him like a hot potato. Don't dwell on their meeting - it could have been just a meeting of old friends who shared memories of their youth. There is no reason why you should be insecure. Consider this a closed episode. She is out of his life. Don't keep bringing her back by constantly nagging him about her.

TITA

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