You Can Forgive Infidelity, but Can You Ever Forget?

Everything dear and precious to Kenneth was lost in a single moment. Never in a million years would he have believed either of them capable of what they did.

Kenneth and Barb had the perfect marriage. She was his best friend, his lover- she was his soul mate. It was an uphill struggle the first few years of their marriage having two kids just a year and a half apart and trying to get a small business off the ground. But they were a good team.

Bill, Kenneth's brother, had a serious problem. His wife was a heavy gambler and had gambled them into the poor house. He had three kids and was about to be evicted. Kenneth and Barb understood and agreed to take them in until they could get back on their feet. They lived in a big house with large rooms so there was plenty of space.

Nevertheless, Kenneth was very worried about Bill. They had always been close and Bill's wife seemed bent on self destruction. At first it was a drinking problem which led to drugs. Bill insisted she get counseling but she refused. It got so bad that he had to hire someone to watch the kids because she would leave sometimes for days at a time. Then came the day when his credit card was turned down. He had no idea that she even had a gambling problem until it was too late and they had lost nearly everything.

It was about a month of moving in with Kenneth that Bill landed a great business deal and a few weeks later, he deposited a handsome check in the bank; which his wife gambled away not two days later. He was insane with anger and Kenneth had to step in for fear of him hurting her. The next day she called her family. They got her on a plane and she left him and the kids.

Supporting his brother while he got back on his feet wasn't hard for Kenneth at the time. His business was doing well and of course Bill promised to compensate. Kenneth knew he would and assured him that he wasn't worried about it.

Six months later, Bill was doing well and could've gotten out on his own at any time, yet he made no effort. However, he was going through a divorce and Kenneth had no problem with them living there. Bill more than paid his share of expenses but it just seemed odd that he had no desire to get his own place.

It was the fourth of July and Bill had taken the kids to see the fireworks. Kenneth was under the impression that he and Barb were going to get in a little quality time alone. But the fireworks the kids were watching couldn't compare to the explosion that happened in Kenneth's heart when Barb told him she was pregnant. Kenneth had a vasectomy right after their last child was born. Bill, his brother, was the father.

During the weeks that followed, Kenneth lived in his office building. He wouldn't accept their calls and refused to see either of them. The emotional pain was worse than any physical pain that Kenneth could imagine. The life, love and family he once had were wiped out in a single moment, devastating him almost to the point of madness.

Bill moved out, promising to accept full responsibility for the child. It was a difficult process, but Barb and Kenneth got back together. However, try as he might he just couldn't do it. With each passing month his wife's belly swelled with his brother's child. It was more than he could bear.

Just months of the birth Kenneth divorced Barb, gave her custody of the children and moved into his office building. He stayed in contact with his brother and even took him to dinner a time or two. He visited Barb and the kids on special occasions such as Christmas and birthdays and it appeared as though he had adjusted very well to the situation. Three years later he committed suicide. Apparently, he could forgive, but he couldn't forget.