Another example from a creative writing subreddit, and Reddit tears the OP apart.
Let's begin.
Am I the Antagonist for wanting to forgive one brother for having an affair with another brother's fiance?
Yes.
I have two brothers, John (28) and Matt (25).
Note how they didn't give his/her gender in the post.
Around three years ago, our family exploded when it came out that Matt was having an affair with John's fiance. A fiance who was 6 months pregnant. Matt turned out to be the father.
4 whammies here: 1) fiance cheats, 2) cheats w/ your brother 3) got her pregnant, 4) the kid isn't yours.
John was understandably humiliated and angry. I was fully on his side. I was disgusted with Matt and the fiance.
Note the "was" very carefully.
Here's my issue though. At John's insistence, Matt has pretty much been excommunicated from our family. He isn't allowed at any gatherings where John is. And John purposely makes sure he is at every one.
And I don't blame him.
Matt married John's ex-fiance and are raising the 2.5-year-old together.
What a bastard.
To this day, Matt's wife is referred to as a whore and the baby is called a bastard. Only by John but in our family's presence. He hates them with a passion even today.
Again, don't blame him. And he's right.
My parents have really struggled with this but have agreed to follow John's rule of no contact with the wife or baby. Even contact with Matt is done in secret. Matt has been kicked out of our family business because John can't be in the same room as him. All photos of Matt have been hidden in the family home. No gifts have been given to Matt's child at all. Am I absolutely crazy to think that three years of this is enough?
Yes, you are.
Matt is clearly remorseful and has apologized many times in tears. He clearly regrets hurting our brother.
But he married his brother's ex, so he can't be that sorry.
I can understand that John is absolutely hurt and it must've been the most painful betrayal. But I still love both my brothers. Matt did a shitty thing but how much more does he need to be punished?
For a long time.
My poor parents have been broken-hearted for the past three years because of this. They have confided in me that they are willing to forgive Matt and move on and regret letting it get this far. We were such a tight-knit family before.
Not that much if this happened.
But I'm really worried that suggesting forgiveness with John will cause a massive fight and he'll make us choose between them. I also worry about his mental health. There is also the innocent child in this. He deserves a relationship with his grandparents and his aunt.
That's on the parents.
I have recently been visiting Matt and his family. They are clearly struggling with the isolation. His wife broke down and apologized as I held my nephew for the first time. My heart tore in two.
Cry me a bloody river. Again, this is all on the backstabbing brother and the cheating hoe.
AITA for wanting to bring them into our family again and forgiving them? There is family reunion coming up in a week and I want them to attend.
Unbelievable.
If the cheating ex didn't get pregnant I gaurentee this whole problem would have resolved itself. Even when you've been wrong, as soon as a child is in the picture, this shit will happen. Stay woke.
Archive link: https://archive.is/Gsy82
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