“I was told that I would never see my parents in heaven because they chose to be cremated.”

I’m an award-winning writer and editor living in New York City, where I currently work at BuzzFeed as the Senior Lifestyle Editor.

Warning: the story below mentions suicide ideation.

"We went no contact after the hospitalization because they just refused to honor boundaries and would seriously say the most toxic garbage every time we spoke. Haven't really spoken in about 15 years. His dad died in 2017, and my husband didn't even go to the funeral (I totally would have respected whatever he wanted to do; he just didn't want to get sucked back in). We now just wait for his mom to randomly harass us out of the blue every few years. Good times."

"I found out my husband was a cheater and exhibited predatory behavior, and told his folks. He hated me ever since, I guess, because I ruined his image as the 'perfect son.' He got engaged three months after our divorce was finalized to one of my best friends. They got married on my birthday. He’s dead now (liver cancer, I think — big-time drinker), and she’s alone. Karma, it’s a bitch. Not sure if the former in-laws are still alive, nor do I care!"

"Not only is she thinking this, but she went around and told others in the family that he is autistic. She blames my son's needs, which he has been diagnosed with a speech delay, all on me. Not only does she do this, but she calls both my boys 'her babies.' This tears me apart. She had the time with her boys; this is my time with my babies."