I was going through a dating app one evening, joking about, when my heart almost stopped. My father’s profile was right there in plain sight, complete with his genuine name and photos. My parents have been married for 25 years, and I never anticipated to find my father looking for dates online. When I challenged him, instead of denying or apologizing, he had the nerve to say:

“It’s not as you think. Your mother and I have been estranged for years; she is usually preoccupied or distracted, and I feel invisible in my own home. I am not cheating; I simply needed to feel noticed somewhere else.” He claimed he had never contacted anyone and had no plans to meet with anyone, but the app made him feel acknowledged again.

I’m not sure how to feel. Is this betrayal? Sadness? Angry that he blamed my mother rather than accepting responsibility? Should I tell my mother? Should I strive to forgive? Or is this an indication that our family is disintegrating?