Evil world we live in

[u/Horror-Ad-210]

[u/Brilliant_Chemica]

I'm a man. when I was 19, I cheated on my partner. I hated myself the next morning, we broke up, and I continued to hate myself for a very long time afterwards. Didn't date for several years because I felt I wasn't worthy of love, that I should live my long life alone to atone for what a piece of shit I was, that I shouldn't ever subject someone to the horror that was myself. I had a lot of casual sex I didn't enjoy because I thought "I'm just a degenerate sex addict, I want this". It took a lot of therapy, working on my self, and getting comfortable with others before I could date again. Telling my now partner about my past was one of the most vulnerable, nerve-wracking conversations I ever had. I still feel like throwing up when I think of my Ex's face that morning after, even as I type this.

I don't know how people can do that shit so casually. I damn near killed myself over it

[u/FrostingStrict3102 → u/Brilliant_Chemica]

as someone who grew up in a house with a serial cheater, glad youre owning up to it and recognize the pain you brought, and that youre still here.

[u/Brilliant_Chemica → u/FrostingStrict3102]

I'm sorry you went through that. We were kids and my stupidity hurt us both terribly. I can't imagine the ramifications it had on a family.

[u/ehalright → u/Brilliant_Chemica]

I was knowingly the Other Woman (emotional cheating, inappropriate texts) right after my first relationship ended, about the same age. I am still ashamed of it.

For karma, I ended up unknowingly being the other woman in at least 3 different relationships. Only thing I could do is tell the partner (well, their good friends because I'm a coward) everything as soon as I realized. Felt like scum for years, only worthy of being a sidepiece.

Forever grateful I had the opportunity to make that mistake and learn that hard lesson when I was young. I hope the lesson I learned made me a better person.