Real-Life. “My Family Blames Me for My Brother's Marriage Breakup”: Even If I Only Told the Truth

It started with an innocent conversation.

It was supposed to be a regular family dinner. We were all sitting at the table in my parents' house – me, my brother Andrzej, his wife Marta, my parents and a few aunts who always came to such occasions. The atmosphere was tense, although I didn’t quite know why. Marta barely looked at Andrzej, and he avoided her gaze. I felt that something was wrong, but I didn’t know yet that everything would change that day.

It started with an innocent conversation. Aunt Hela asked if Andrzej and Marta were thinking about another child. Marta shrugged, and Andrzej remained silent. Finally I couldn't take it anymore.

„Marta, did Andrzej tell you what happened last time?”

She looked at me, confused.

– „What are you talking about?”

I fell silent for a moment, feeling everyone staring at me. I knew that what I said would change everything, but I couldn't stay silent any longer.

– „Andrzej… was seeing someone. Some woman from work. I saw them together.”

The room fell silent. Marta looked at my brother with a mixture of disbelief and pain.

– „It's true?”

Andrzej started saying something, explaining that it was just a business meeting, that nothing had happened. But her look said it all – she didn’t believe him.

The dinner ended abruptly. Marta ran out of the house, and Andrzej followed her. My parents looked at me as if I had just ruined their lives.

& bdquo; Why did you do that? & ndash; my mother asked, barely holding back tears. & ndash; & bdquo; It was their business, not yours. They could have fixed it, but you ruined it all.”

– „Mom, she had to know the truth! I couldn't pretend nothing was happening.”

Father shook his head.

– „Sometimes it's better to stay silent. The truth doesn't always bring good results.”

The phones went silent for the next few days. Marta moved in with her parents, and Andrzej was left alone in their apartment. My family made it clear to me that it was my fault. No one wanted to listen to my explanations that I couldn't let Marta live a lie.
When I finally visited my parents, my mother couldn't take it anymore.

„You think you're a hero because you told the truth? You ruined your brother's life. Now Marta doesn't want to know him, and he can't find a place for himself. It's all because of you!”

– “Mom, Andrzej cheated on her! It wasn't me who ruined their marriage, it was him!”

– “But if you had stayed silent, they would have had a chance to fix it. And now? There's nothing left of it!”

I felt like an intruder in my own family. My aunts, who had always been warm, looked at me coldly. My father avoided conversation, and my mother did everything to make me feel like I had failed her as a daughter.

I didn’t know what to do. Should I have stayed silent?? Was my truth worth breaking up my family?? But could I live with the knowledge that I had allowed the lie to continue??

A few months later, Marta finally contacted me. We met at a coffee shop, and her face looked tired but calm.

– „Thank you for telling me,– she began, and I felt a weight lift from my heart.

„Really?”

– „Yes. It hurt, a lot. But at least I know where I stand. Andrzej tried to apologize to me, promised it wouldn't happen again. But you know what? If you hadn't told me, I would never have known what my life was really like. I deserved better.”

Her words were like balm to my wounds. I knew I did the right thing, even though my family still blamed me for it.

Today our relationship is cold. Andrzej doesn't talk to me, my parents still think I'm guilty, and my aunts gossip behind my back. But I know one thing – the truth always has a price. And even though it's high, I never regret paying it.

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See what else we've written about in recent days: Krzysztof Jackowski has no doubts. The coming time will be exceptionally difficult