HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — NeNe Leakes is opening up about the state of her marriage after last week's episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta showed her on the brink of a divorce.
"We are still together," the reality star tells Essence of her current standing with husband Gregg. "We are in the same house and we are still legally married. But that's not to say we won't be unmarried."
The episode showed Leakes visiting a divorce attorney and dealing with the fallout of her husband exposing their relationship problems during an interview. She admits the thought of being on her own makes her scared.
"I'm taking baby steps," she says. "I've been with Gregg since I was 28, and I'm now 42. I thought I was a woman when I got with him, but I'm really a grown woman now. I've been with him for some of the best years of my life so it is scary for me to be like, 'I'm gonna be on my own.'"
She says the couple's relationship changes daily but remains cordial.
"It is very much of an up and down thing," explains Leakes. "One day is good, the next day is bad. That's what I'm really tired of. And I'm very aware that the 40s for me, are the new 30s and that I need to be happy because life is very short."
In the midst of the rollercoaster ride, the reality star has been leaning on her friends for support.
"My girlfriends tell me, 'NeNe you can do this on your own,'" she says. "Gregg is my friend and he's been that for years. He's always been a great rock for me and I'm afraid that if we really break it off for good I won't have that rock that I've always had to give me great advice."
So how is Gregg dealing with the marriage troubles? "He's going through a lot because he doesn't want a divorce," shares Leakes. "He says he's very much in love and he wants to stay married."
Through it all, Leakes is also trying to protect her youngest son, 11-year-old Brentt.
"I wouldn't let him watch this week's show," she says. "My husband and I have both talked to him on our own. He's only 11 so he wants his mom and dad to be together."
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