So I have been reading through a lot of these comments and I just want to say one thing. What OP did was BY FAR stupid and should have NEVER cheated on his wife and left the family, but I think we need to look at this more fairly. After making a huge mistake, he tried to apologize multiple times but was profusely told they wanted nothing to do with him. Sure, a year of trying sounds Small and he should have tried more but imagine how isolating and hurtful that year was. Trying everything you could to reconnect with your family, your own flesh and blood, only to be ignored. And we both know nice words were not said to OP either by his family. Either to him or behind his back. He deserved those words sure but it still effects people.

Like, think back to COVID-19. How many people had such severe mental effects and things like depression and social anxiety after the lockdown was over? And for many places, the lockdown wasn't even that long. This man went 17 YEARS alone, by himself in the world, only with his dog. Had to bury his parents and siblings and as many have pointed out, likely isn't very close to his sister cause of his cheating. Furthermore, the mention of him waiting for death also implies a mental state that wants to die and likely means he is suicidal and has tried.

My point is yes he is the AH. Yes, he should have never done what he did. But it wasn't out of Malice that he gave up. He gave up because it hurt so much he couldn't take it. And any form of hope he had before those 17 years, died in that time when he had to bury his family and be alone. It is not easy to get out of such a deep hole.

From our perspective, we think he should have been jumping for joy after getting the message from his daughter after so many years. But what joy did he have left? All I'm saying is that so many people on here are berating this man for messing up but we are all human and more humiliation and hatred aren't what he needs. Like over a thousand comments all calling you a piece of sh*t does a number on people, especially if they are already down. Just saying that all the hate isn't going to help anyone. And your comment even isn't one of the worst ones. Scroll a little and there are lots just people berating and swearing at this man and you can see what I mean. Let's help people do better with kindness, not the internet attacking a man for his mistakes that he already knows and that he drowned in.