Journalist Simon Mills writes about being blindsided by his own divorce and subsequently noticing that many of his middle-aged friends' marriages are also struggling or ending. Drawing on the experience of a divorce coach, the piece explores why long-term relationships often unravel later in life and identifies warning signs that couples and their friends frequently overlook until it is too late. The article matters because it speaks to a broader, often under-discussed pattern of "grey divorce" affecting people in their 40s, 50s and beyond.

The piece combines Mills's personal account with professional insight from a divorce coach, who sets out the subtle behavioural and emotional cues that can indicate a marriage is in trouble, such as growing emotional distance, changed routines and communication breakdowns. It forms part of the Daily Mail's Morning Mail newsletter series, blending first-person reflection with expert advice aimed at helping readers recognise these signs in their own relationships or those of people close to them.