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Caroline had been married to her husband for 19 years. She says they were never "lovey dovey" but were "good friends."

Then, days before one of her children's 18th birthday, he told her that he'd been struggling with his sexuality since he was young and was moving in with another man.

Listen: Interview with Caroline

成人论坛 Leicester's Julie Mayer spoke to Caroline about her marriage, how she felt when she found out her husband was leaving her for a man, and what life's like for her now.

Caroline says she didn't suspect that her husband was gay, even though others would expect there to be obvious signs.

Struggling with his sexuality

Like all marriages, she says they had their ups and downs - the only big problem was the physical side of their relationship.

Then just before one of their children's birthdays he told Caroline that he was leaving her:

"He said he'd struggled with his sexuality since he'd been in his early teens and he'd had opportunities come up along the way but he'd turned them down.

"I couldn't believe what was coming out of his mouth, because I thought I had no idea, absolutely no inkling."

"I'd let him down"

Caroline says she made an effort to put up a united front with her husband for the sake of their children - she even helped him move in with his new boyfriend.

"I just felt that I'd let him down as a wife, I'd let him down as a friend, I'd let him down.

"That he'd struggled with this from his teens but he'd never mentioned it to me and I thought what an important part of a relationship not to mention.

"I questioned myself - what sort of person am I that he couldn't - either didn't want to tell me or didn't feel he could."

"Thank you"

Caroline says she's lost her trust in men now, but believes she'd feel the same way if he'd left her for another woman.

She says it's hard living on her own now that her son has moved out and her daughter's gone travelling, but her family and friends have been very supportive.

She even believes that her husband was right to leave her:

"He's so much happier, I actually said, 'you did the right thing', and I know it was very very difficult for him to finally come out with it and leave.

"I didn't make it easy for him, but I actually said to him, 'thank you, you did the right thing.' He's a lot happier and I think I am too now."