He Hooked Up With His Late Brother’s Wife, So Now He Feels Guilty And Like He’s Betrayed His Brother’s Memory

One year ago, this 25-year-old man sadly lost his older, 35-year-old brother – who died due to a drunk driver. In the wake of his passing, his brother also left behind his wife and young daughter, Lily.
“Losing him has been incredibly hard on all of us, and I’ve been doing my best to support his wife and daughter through this tough time,” he explained.
“I go over frequently to help with their kid, trying to ease some of the burdens and be there for them however I can.”
But, over the past year of helping out his late brother’s family, he has become increasingly close with his late brother’s wife. They have since shared numerous late-night conversations, providing each other with support, reminiscing about his brother, and coping with their shared grief.
Then, after they both put Lily to bed one evening, things progressed further for the very first time.
It all began when he and his late brother’s wife were sitting on the couch, discussing all of the great times they had with his brother.
“The mood was heavy with emotion, and in a moment of vulnerability, she kissed me,” he recalled.
He was completely shocked and realizes now that he should have immediately put a stop to it. But he didn’t, and the situation only escalated – with him and his late brother’s wife hooking up that night.
Then, as soon as the deed was done, a wave of guilt hit him, and he felt like he had seriously betrayed his brother’s memory.

Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
Ever since that night, his brother’s wife has also been texting and calling him, but he’s just been ignoring her. He has no idea how to face her after what happened between them.
“I know she’s hurting too, and my avoidance is probably making things worse, but I feel paralyzed by guilt and confusion,” he admitted.
To make matters even worse, he’s feeling the grief of his brother’s death heavier now than ever. He knows that his brother was taken from his family too soon, and he is constantly in pain thinking about the loss.
“I can’t help but wonder if he would be disappointed in me, [and] if he would understand the conflicting emotions I’m grappling with,” he said.
At the same time, every single time he looks at his niece, Lily, he sees his own brother. Then, his heart breaks further because he wants to be a part of her life.
“I want to be there for her and for his wife, but I don’t know how to navigate this new, complicated dynamic,” he vented.
And now, he’s really not sure if hooking up with his late brother’s wife makes him a real jerk.
Does it sound like he had prior intentions to hook up with his late brother’s wife, or did it just happen in the heat of the moment? How would you feel in his shoes? What should he do now?
You can read the original post on Reddit here.
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