DEAR ABBY: My closest friend, "Tina," who is married, has been having an affair for a few months. She has now decided she's no longer in love with her husband, "Hal," and wants a divorce. Tina and Hal have been in my life for several years and are like family to me.
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Hal recently reached out to me for an explanation about Tina's 180-degree change in attitude, feelings and behavior. He is crushed and confused about why she wants a divorce. He told me he had asked her if she had been cheating. Of course, Tina lied to him.
I don't want to be the one to tell Hal what she's doing, but I feel I owe it to him. I'm disgusted with Tina, and it's killing me to see him in so much pain. What do you suggest? Am I really a friend if I don't tell, or should I continue keeping her dirty little secret? -- IN THE MIDDLE IN CORPUS CHRISTI
DEAR IN THE MIDDLE: Hal already suspects that Tina is cheating, or he wouldn't have asked for confirmation. If you "spill," it will cost you your friendship with Tina. However, from the tone of your letter, it appears that she's someone for whom you have lost respect anyway.
Tina's secret will be common knowledge soon. If you reveal it to Hal, he will not be thrilled to hear the news. There's a reason why people were afraid to give Caesar bad news. He had a habit of killing the messenger. So be prepared.