All Comments on 'Burning Bridges'

Sort of like the Flamethrower scene in Once upon a time in Hollywood. Face it, subtle doesn't work for some people!

Seriously dark but seriously good - 5*

"How do you live without your soul mate?"

Well I imagine the same way he managed to live without her for the years after he skipped town.

Yes, it was dark but it is one of the best stories on this site.

Damn

Revenge? That's the kind you don't really want. Retribution? All the offenders are dead so what kind of retribution is that? The kid? Leave him with the grandparents. Not his problem. Not a happy tale.

great story! the parents shouldve been more supportive towards him instead of trying to get him to forgive but overall im glad he burnt that bridge along with everything else. the wife obviously needed help and sought the cowards way out of trying to deal with her actions.

Dark, sad, but so damn good. Brother and ex wife made their bed and died in it.

Well-told, but without a single sympathetic character in sight (maybe Tommy as a peripheral figure), hard to get too enthused about this one.

As tragic as this tale is... I feel it fully. Except, once I burn my bridges, I'll be putting bullet in my own skull. My "loving family" left me nothing to look forward to... I just want time to piss on my brother's grave.

A dark tragic story with no happy ending. Unfortunately feels very real as anyone with a toxic family member like Billy can attest to, the person who seems determined to ruin their life and drag everyone else down with them. 5 stars.

Loved it! Was utterly realistic. 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can relate to the part about the addict stealing, and dragging everyone down with them. Quite a few female dope addicts are narcissists, and use as many men as they can, to fund their addiction.

I knew one girl, who lost her kids because of this. She kept getting into relationships with guys, and bled them white. Once their money ran out, back to rehab she went, until it was time to find another victim and do it al, over again.

She left a string of men, all in worse shape, than when she found them.

Would LOVE a part 2 but from the viewpoint of the child as he grows up .. maybe a redemption arc

The ex-wife made the correct choice in the end. Suicide was her best option given the history she could not change and her personality structure. The author did not make clear whether the brother's overdose was intentional or accidental. Ultimately, it is a moot point. Given his inability to maintain sobriety, his death was inevitable. It is unfortunate two such defective genotypes produced a viable offspring when they bred.

I get the feeling he will get passed her. That chapter in his life is over. The parents will feel regret if not complete apathy for the child once they seek professional help.

Wow, I loved it. You did a great job, building the soulmate connection between Doug and Teresa. But I had a hard time believing she would so easily betray Doug. Getting past that, I thought for sure Doug was going to shoot himself at the party. I glad I was wrong. Because Teresa killing herself made it way better. I would have loved more detail. Something like, she went to one of their special places, maybe a shade tree in a park, with their initials within a heart carved in the trunk. Then and several paragraphs of the heartache, despair, regret. She was suffering. As she swallows handfuls of pills, and washes them down with sweet tea.

I also loved it when he let Billy live in his misery. And finally, Doug suffers in his pain, anguish and loneliness. He admits he still loves Teresa, and wanted to be with her. But felt his hurt of betrayal would never heal. He should have returned to the same special tree and carves "forever" under their initials, puts the gun to his head and pulls the trigger.

Thank you for your wonderful story, I really appreciate the sad ending in this one.

NO HAPPY ENDS HERE, JUST A GOOD STORY. THANK YOU BEAST! ALL 5

somewhere east of Omaha

I read it again and this remains a very powerful story.

Nothing to keep the bad memories.

No need to think a slut as soulmate.

Move forward is the only way.

Dark story, but it’s contents will resonate with a lot of people.

Scores 5/5

Good story but WAY to blackhearted. Too close to reality.

Powerful

HUH. only read # 1 and 3 liked his speech at the arty in #1.

and the SWAMP DONKEY herd was greatful because it was getting a little to crowded in their herd, and there was no more room for another SWAMP DONKEY... lol classic

Enough btb-raac attempts; they should both just off themselves from the living world. Perhaps Teresa goes first, sainted from her "adulterated flesh" (or adultery-committing body, if you wanna put it that way) and then goes to stalk-haunt Doug to death.

Liberated, together in the afterlife.

Or just maybe, each deciding separately to lobotomize their amygdalas, so both land up in the same sanitarium in town.

Author didn't bring in new lovers to these, so... that is the sole merciful end, don't you think?

Would love to see a sequel where he gets therapy

Круто!!!!!

Sad!

Lots of writers here talk about soul mates but they wouldn't recognize one if it came up and bit them in the ass. True soul mates recognize that thay are human and as such they are capable of making huge mistakes. How many people who are normally pretty straight laced have had too much to drink and then the next day wonder "what the fuck was I thinking ". Not saying there shouldn't be consequences, maybe even pretty harsh ones, but you don't give up and run away. True soul mates, once they have found each other, cannot live without the other. Think of all the couples who have been married 50 or more years and when one dies, the other dies within a few months. Teresa believed he was her soul mate and couldn't live without him so she took her life. It seems to me that he didn't truly believe that she was his soul mate. It must be great to live a life where you never fuck up. So many of the men in these stories should be nominated for sainthood.

One of the saddest stories, if not THE saddest.

What a man, Doug!!! Well done.

The ending of the story had my eyes full of dust. Awesome story even though full of sadness. Definitely a 5 star 🌟💫🌟💫🌟💫🌟💫🌟

Bitter pathos and unintended consequences.

Quo Vadis?

Dumb ass Anon. If that was a true soul mate, she wouldn't give up her vows for a pity lay -- intoxicated or not. Stop dragging down actual soul mates to your gutter level. Dumb ass. You Americans and your drug laced life.

Awesome, DARK BTB story!!! 5 STARS!!!!

Liked the story except for the guilt and the whining. Made the MC weak. Quit whining, and reconcile or leave. Either way, a man lives with his decisions. A child wants it some other way. "Fix it, Mommy!"

All the blame goes to 1st : the parents, 2nd : the idiot wife, 3rd : the junky brother. The MC did what he needed to do and tried to get away from them all.

Deeds always leads to consequences

Dark but realistic tale....

In Most cases parents, other family members, even your spouse always favour depressed member...this is called family

But everyone had to weight the innocence, before acting biasedly against the welldoer

I like it

A very sad and tragic story that caused sooooo much pain and suffering for sooooo many folks over sooooo much time!!!!!

Someone makes a horrible, foolish and life changing serious mistake without regard to the supposed love and respect for their spouse, and they give their life for it? Where O where is counseling and therapy, especially after repeated attempts to take your life????

A depressing story that is a very hard read and brings back so many unpleasant personal memories because of the same lack of proper responses to help someone in need - instead of just constant interference!

We felt your story was well written, but…….. It missed so many opportunities to touch someone in desperate need.

Are you, the author, really as sad as this story portrayed. It would take extreme sadness to understand the last paragraph. More to write it.

He should have killed his parents as well for good measure

No, I don't think killing his parents was right, but letting them live with what they had done was extreme punishment. Knowing what they had done to Doug, how they had made him suffer, then help his brother destroy Doug's marriage, and the finally, two suicides, I think that has to be the best punishment ever, because there is no way to fix it. Great story line, good grammar, ( liked the Texas drawuel) . Keep writing.

XYZ

Another attempt by a woman trying to set a guy right with her vagina. That is stupidity personified.

Well-written, 5 stars. I really liked it. Ever notice, though, in all of these stories "soul-mates" act so badly? A true "SOUL-MATE" would NEVER be able to betray their other half to begin with. Perhaps that term is used to loosely anymore. Just like the word LOVE.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What a disgusting story…not a single

Likeable characters!

Well written and you were honest it was sad. I loved the writing and how you showed both sides of the marriage and divorce.

Well written. Sad yes, but it makes one think how their actions can affect others. Great job

The BEST of them all

Truly great story but the issue with this, like so many of these, there is that slight bit of manipulation to irk the reader just a tad more than the writer can with just his writing.

When she said she cant return with out her babies daddy. The point that this is reader manipulation, and you knew it when you wrote it, is clear, as no woman who had another mans baby would make such a statement if trying to win back her husband. Literally no one would use that statement.

Would have been a 5 if you hadnt dumbed her down to the LW template everyone uses.

5 stars for Doug

The story was good but the part about her getting stoned on second hand smoke was bullshit. You can’t get high from being in a smoky room. Better just to admit she was a horny slut.

Good story but very sad. The big mistake was allowing Billy to move in after the parents threw him out. They can't stand their own son, but their other son and daughter-in-law get to put up with him. Believable but crazy.

At least with both of them gone he has full closure now. And he stays far away from his toxic parents...

He's damaged. But if he takes things slow. Focuses on work. Maybe even gets some therapy. Talks to someone.

2 or 3 years down the road? He's still young. He can find a loyal woman. Develop trust again. And move on with life.

Now that’s a story!!! Not like other stories I’ve read that end up with forgiveness and reconciliation bullshit. But I do wish it were longer.

Does no one in these stories use protection or a morning after pill? How dumb. Of course the wife had a really stupid set of rationalizations. The brother claims he can't get it up because of the drug but does immediately. She could have pulled back. But no she does her mercy fuck. And pays the price. She would have gotten away with it if she didn't get pregnant. Get a helmet on that soldier! There are many contraception choices. Or better yet don't have sex!

I wish this had a sequel with good ending for the protagonist

What a cuck ,

He's gonna raise the scumbags son ?

That's the definition of a cuckold .

One star .

Like most addicts Billy was a skilled manipulator. He revels in his self created “victim” status, and not content with only destroying his own life, he destroys the lives of all around him.

He follows the standard pattern of gaining trust, however misplaced, through his lies, then proceeds to abuse that trust by stealing and lying all while still playing the victim. His parents were first to fall to his bullshit, then he goes after Theresa, and finally manages to destroy his brother by having already destroyed everything in his brothers life.

Should Doug have forgiven Theresa? Possibly. It was obvious they were still in love. But, the betrayal of Doug by his entire family was too much, and it changed him to the rage filled beast he became.

Billy was a monster, his actions prove that. No amount of well meaning social services, interventions, or rehabs can ever change that. A real shame neither the parents or Theresa could see that.

I continue to be amazed that a couple will have unprotected sex for months and not get pregnant, but one time cheating and whoop there it is.

How can a woman, in this day and age not expect or at least consider that she might be pregnant after 1 time of unprotected sex. But then again she was a stupid slut to be conned by his brother. Seriously? A mercy fuck that leads to a destroyed marriage, a broken relationship with his parents, an unwanted child. and of course two suicides. oops

Daamn!

In my 20's I had a gf for 2 1/2 years who had been an LA runaway. Very insecure and clingy. I finally told her the only reason we weren't over in 8 months was the scars on her wrists from attempting suicide in her teens. She found her future husband in 10 days; stayed married to him over 20 years!

What a pleasant story.

Can a story be more depressing?

Incredibly sad story. I just don't het why Teresa didn't think to use a condom or get a morning after pill. Yes she was stupid and manipulated by Billy into give him a mercy fuck. It was a terrible choice she made and she betrayed her husband, who is straight out of the Old Testament. But having her brother-in-law's kid makes reconciliation impossible in our space-time continuum. For pity's sake, go get a freaking condom. Unbelievably stupid. Otherwise they could have all gotten past it. She broker her vows for a stupid decision but the pregnancy killed everyone.

MC is a real man!!! Live with your decisions...

Grim

There are few things sadder than a thin skinned author who submits a story to a public forum. If you can't stand the heat...

So why didn't Teresa use a condom? Besides Billy was a crack head with probable STDs. How did she dodge that? Billy is an evil person. He knew what he was doing and the ED stuff was wicked trickery on his part. Disgusting. The husband probably would have never forgiven her fucking his dirt bag brother even if she hadn't gotten pregnant. But why for pity's sake did she NOT have Billy where a condom or just give him a blowjob? Ridiculous and cost her their marriage, wrecked her husband and caused her and Billy yo commit suicide. The parents being in on the secret and their lack of support for the MC is also appalling. Very dark.

To be honest this really was a great story was it a kick in the teeth 😳 Hell Yeah but it addressed real issues and crafted real characters. Codependent Wife, Addict Brother, Fucking horrible parents and truly innocent victim whose become emotionally closed off and defensive.

And for those who called him a cuckold for raising his Nephew fucking grow up. Learn to read he loved his wife his brother and his parents but grew to hate them. His Nephew is a chance to start again and that's not cuckoldary that's noble.

Too bad Doug didn’t shoot Martha in the leg as a permanent reminder to not meddle in other people’s lives

Raw and honest. 5 stars from me...

SAD!

I didn't know Aesop had a brother...... or his umpteen-times descendant.

One word, intense

Truly sad tale. Original and well-written. Thanks.

Ed

Only hope for any of them would have been if she had confessed immediately right after. If husband was truly her soulmate she never would have done it. These authors throw that word around with out truly understanding it

Good story, well written but sad. Feels unfinished?

Damn that was bleak. I could have sworn I read something like this somewhere else but who knows for sure.

"Soulmates" is a overwrought word of the overly romantic. A marriage is WORK, a joint project of which love is just the beginning, and bolstered by working at it: respect, duty, fidelity, parntership, companionship,etc. They all build on the initial love but it isn't enough alone. The "soulmates" is what you have looking back in gratitude you built that with someone wonderful. These two weren't soulmates. Neither willing to do the work. Thus the bleak, bleak story. Were I this husband, I would have been said to realize it wasn't a soulmate relationship. Forgive her, yes, but stay in that marriage. Hell No! But pushing her to suicide only hurt himself in the end. Should have got her parents to reconcile with her, and with his parents, get her professional help and monitoring. Then move one. I did after an 8 year first marriage which ended with her infidelity and a mental illness that required more management than I could do, so got her help with the inlaws, and moved on to a wonderful 31 year marriage with a more stable woman.

The author came up with a set of circumstances surrounding the one time Teresa had sex with Billy that I could see it being forgivable.

Unfortunately Teresa didn't have the strength of character to do the right thing and be honest with him immediately.

And then to hate her baby and ultimately end up killing herself. Definitely falls in the category of if you can't do the time don't commit the crime.

It's really too bad his parents don't have the pay any more consequence than having to raise their grandchild.

They enable Billy's addiction for years. Ignore the good son for all that time. Bully Doug into letting Billy stay with him even though they're not willing to let him stay at their house. And then convince Teresa to keep her infidelity from Doug.

Billy may have been the direct instigator of the destruction in this story but, ultimately the blame really lands at the feet of his parents.

Sad tale.

I ended a 2 & 1/2 year relationship with a damaged woman by telling her the scars on her wrists were the only reason I hadn't been long gone. She found somebody new in 10 days! Stayed married to him for 20 years.

I ended a 2 & 1/2 year relationship with a damaged woman by telling her the scars on her wrists were the only reason I hadn't been long gone. She found somebody new in 10 days! Stayed married to him for 20 years.

Was just so dark and sad, really.

Damn, that was dark as hell. Good one!

Dark, yes; but well done!

I agree with anonymous from a month ago, in that it feels incomplete. In fact I was looking for a part 3, but didn't find one. I thought the first part was pretty damn good, and this part was ok, with her telling her side of the story. But it still left unanswered questions particularly if he was her "soulmate", why didn't she tell him right away that she had sex with Billy? Why hide it? By doing so she killed any and all trust they had. Her going "stalker" on him didn't help one bit either. His parents should have stayed out of the entire mess, mostly because they caused it by taking sides with their sons, and forcing Doug to take Billy in, since they wouldn't.

Tom and Martha (his boss and wife) didn't know the full story, and Tom had never asked. Martha the busy body couldn't leave well enough alone and just had to intervene where she shouldn't have, costing Tom a shop foreman and a good employee. Not to mention more hurt feelings than she planned on. At least she got the whole story on why they were divorced.

I believe I gave the first part 5 stars, this part however felt unfinished and got 4 stars as a result. Thanks for sharing it though.

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was thee.

He ruined his own life.

Seachanger what drugs are you on, his life was already ruined, they just wouldn’t leave him alone to rebuild it

Very realistic and emotional story I've ever read.

What Doug did was perfect for a real man but never to forget that the real man had a beautiful heart which had been hurt and lead him to do those things.

Somehow I feel that Teresa should've given at least a chance to rectify the damage. And I'm sure, given a chance, she'd have done anything and everything to make it right. And at last, Doug could be a happier than before.

Good job last man standing lol

He forgave them by leaving and that cunt ex wife couldnt leave a good man alone. Doug the poor bastard always got put behind his brother and now hes finally free to find a marry a faithful wife who will put him first for once.

I know the feeling. I am in the room with my soul mate of 56 years but I am not, things happen and people change but life goes on.

Very effective, and devastating.

Sadly, there was nothing in this that doesn't happen in real life, to some degree or other.

Two utterly destroyed families, a child who will never know his parents.

Teresa's fate was cruel, Billy's fate was cruel, and Doug's fate was cruel as well. Not one of them were without regret. The grandparents have lost everything. I know they will try and bring the boy up to be happy, but the ghosts of the past will always be there, and at some level, they will hand the pain down to the child. They will also know that they are at least partly responsible.

I think Teresa was weak and stupid, but was still essentially a good person. Still, there was never going to be redemption for her.

I think Doug is mostly a good person, but to not be able to forgive, while a human weakness and justified, has already destroyed his potential, he'll never be free of it, probably never have another relationship, and be a bitter old man until he does alone.

Billy was the closest to being a bad person, but his insecurity and fears were the driving force of his bad decisions. It is still a tragedy, because he knew what he had done, he knew he was the cause of everyone's pain, and it was obvious that when he died, he was filled with that regret. What a horrible place to be. Suicide through loss of personal hope is one thing, but to be cognisant of the vile nature of the acts he had committed, and the pain that he had heaped upon them all... he would have been in a living hell.

I do think he loved them all, but he was just too far gone to find his way back. The only real path for him was to die, even before the seduction.

Bloody brilliant, such a hard hitting story, great characters, and the plot you pulled off was really good, loved how you tied up all the endings one after the other. One of my favourites.

Such is life!

Wow this woman is a liar.. lol. The entire second page of this story was nothing but falsehood, hey whatever gets you through I guess. You cannot do that to someone you claim to love, claim is your soulmate.... ah fuck it, no one cares anyway

This just hits so hard its amazing. Part of me wishes there was a sequel, but the rest of me is glad there isnt because it makes what there is of the story so much more powerful. 5*

Dark and powerfully written. 5* — Now, I’m going to go have supper with my soul mate of several decades, and reflect on how much more fortunate my life has been compared the MC in this story.

What a piece of shit the MC was. This was well written and a perfect example of the damage that is done by the btb losers when they get their way. No one even breaks even because of the desire to just hurt someone. The best thing the gutless wimp could have done is off himself as he is even more worthless than the brother. At least his wife would have been able to go onand have a good life.