Here is my dating history, which is relevant to my question.
First love: age 18, serious, 8 months
College sweetheart: age 20, serious, 3 years
Rebound: Age 21, confused, 5 months
Wife: Age 23, serious, penpal for 4 years, dated 3 weeks...then married for 12 years.
I am newly divorced, dating a woman seriously for the last 5 months. We kinda broke up once 2 months ago, but this past weekend we seriously called it quits. But this time I swallowed my pride and begged for forgiveness, and she forgave me. Now we are together, but I'm kinda worried.
I am 35, and she is 38. We both are newly divorced with 2 small kids. Sometimes I feel the stress around us is affecting our relationship. I also feel maybe I am attached too soon, and maybe we are not ready for this. My feelings waiver back and forth, but it always comes back to the conclusion that I love her deeply and I want to spend my life with her. She and I are very compatible, but opposite personalities. The sex is amazing...beyond comprehension for both of us. We are deeply connected intellectually, emotionally and physically. It seemed so perfect just a few weeks ago, to the point where she asked me, "so whats the catch?....I've never met a man THIS perfect for me.....I can't even create a guy in my head more perfect than you." I was seriously pleased, as I felt the same way about her. You can call it honeymoon phase or whatever, but I thought we are mature enough to know what we want. We are not teenagers or inexperienced people....so I trust her perspectives.
My only insecurity at this point is how to I regain her trust again after this last big fight. I know people will always remember the hurt. I feel like such a dope because I don't know how to date anymore. I am like me when I was 18....so unsure and scared that she can never put stuff behind us. I didn't cheat. I didn't beat her. I didn't play mind games. I just said something very mean, which I clearly did not mean. I hurt her deeply, and I've been regretful. I took steps immediately to effect change. I went to a doctor to make sure I was not sick. I rearranged my plans so that I can be clearer about our future. I had a major attitude adjustment because I dont want any past hurt between us anymore.
Question: How does a woman truly forgive a man, after seeing the most wicked side of him? She told me that her image of me shattered that day when I said those incredibly mean and malicious things to her. I wasn't feeling well. She wasn't feeling well. Everything amplified. Has anyone ever survived such a big fight? I did it often with my ex-wife, and we stayed together for years because quitting wasn't so easy. But I think it's easier to quit when you are only dating. I hate this part.