When Doing the Right Thing Felt So Wrong

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Honestly, looking back, I’ve made quite a few decisions in my life that I truly regret. Some of them still sit heavily on my mind, and if I had the chance to go back and undo them, I probably would. One that really stands out was something that happened between me and a close friend — someone I used to consider more like a brother than just a regular friend.

We were roommates at the time, and like many people who lived together, we had our ups and downs. But on one particular day, things got really heated between us. I can’t even remember exactly what sparked the argument, but it escalated quickly. Emotions were high, and before I knew it, he actually punched me in the face. I was shocked and angry — not just because of the pain, but because it came from someone I trusted and cared about.

In the heat of that moment, I felt justified in reporting him. I didn’t do it with the intention of ruining his life or getting him expelled or anything extreme like that. I just thought maybe they’d discipline him — maybe give him a warning or punish him in some way to make him realize he had crossed a line. But things didn’t go the way I expected.

The school took the matter really seriously, and before I knew it, they were talking about suspending him for a whole year. That’s when reality hit me hard. I began to feel sick — like I had just made a huge mistake. I didn’t want things to go that far. I didn’t want to be responsible for setting my friend back academically, especially when he was already in 400 level and so close to finishing. The guilt started eating me up, and I found myself pleading on his behalf, even helping him to apologize to the authorities. Thankfully, after a lot of back and forth, the school accepted the apology and decided to drop the case.

But despite everything being “resolved,” things were never the same between us again. He became distant and understandably upset. There was this silent tension that lingered, and we never really recovered from it. Deep down, I wished I had handled things differently. Maybe I should’ve just walked away, kept my distance, and cut off the friendship quietly. That way, at least I wouldn’t have to carry the guilt of almost destroying someone’s future — someone I once called a friend.

It still haunts me sometimes. I think that’s one of the things I regret the most — not just because of what happened, but because of how much it changed both of us.

Thanks for reading.