What does 'it' refer to?

[thedaffodils]

Hi!

Could you please tell me what 'it' refer to in the follow context where I highlight in blue? Does it refer to 'her heart'? Thank you.

Dear Bel,
Throughout my married life, I always said if my husband had an affair that would be it. But when it slaps you in the face, as it did after eight years of marriage, there is a whole picture to consider - most importantly your children.
Then there's friends, family and a life that you have built together, while you were totally in love and marriage was for ever.
I wrote out all the pros and cons before making a final decision to stay. I was devastated and my heart felt it had been ripped out - although I was told: 'Get over it - it's in the past.'

Source: the Daily Mail
BEL MOONEY: How can I ever trust again after so many lies? | Mail Online

[heidita]

hi , you forgot to highlight:)

[thedaffodils]

hi , you forgot to highlight:)

I did. It is in the last line of the text I quote.

[David L.]

The sentence anthropomorphizes(=the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object) an organ of the body, the heart.

If I said, "I felt I had been slapped in the face by her remark"

compare

"My heart felt it had been ripped out."

It's as if the heart has 'awareness', 'consciousness', and in effect, in direct speech, would be saying:
"I felt I had been ripped out of his body." (where 'I' here refers to the heart.)

So -'it' refers back to 'heart'.

[heidita]

I did. It is in the last line of the text I quote.

Oh, true, jeje, I missed it!

David has already answered I see:)

[thedaffodils]

Hello David,

Thank you very much for your help. I got it.


Heitida, thank you for your attention again.

[heidita]

Always welcome, daffodil, I do like your intelligent and very well posed quests, not so very usual on any forum:)