You didn't accidentally hurt them... You were deliberately an asshole!
A mistake, I think anyway- is when an unforeseen negative consequence occurs completely unintentionally after an event. You then work on it right? Perhaps correct whatever it was so that it doesn't happen again...learn and grow and shit.
So when I hear people who find out that their partner has been secretly having an affair on the side, take them back. Justified because they're really sorry, they love them and they regret their mistake. Now I am not saying that a person is not capable of change, otherwise rehabilitation program's may as well be shut down, we can then just accept that we should just give them a lunch box, a bottle of water and jettison them into space- the cost may be worth it if that is the case. No- I'm just saying that it isn't what I would call a mistake.
It's pretty much a no brainer that an affair involves planning, lies and is deliberate and calculated. Knowing it wasn't going to be this gift of awesomeness wrapped up in love; is why there's the lies to begin with. So when it all comes out in the open... An apology? Remorse? Yeah, I call BULLSHIT!! Sorry about the reaction, not really the action. If they weren't caught, then obviously they'd have had the epiphany that perhaps it's not going to win you the best partner award if it continues. Didn't mean to hurt them... Yeah it's better for everyone involved and hurt a family less when people separate because someone was caught cheating than when people split because they where just unhappy. Fuck the fear of being alone, it's better than a lifetime of unhappiness - and single DOES NOT mean lonely, lonely probably means you need to learn how to have friends.
I'm sure most agree... But if you have a friend that had taken someone back after something like that - after the separation your mate tells you all the shit that makes the other a complete and utter FUCKSTICK!! Then they get back together and as a friend they want you to support them when really, you just want to kick them in the crack for being stupid, what the hell do we do?
I don't know... We say its complicated if it happens to us, but it's got to be more uncomfortable for the friends who have to shut up and go back to celebrating reconciliation. It might be for the kids to stay together, but I doubt it. It's either a complete lack of self worth or the irrational fear of dying alone.. sorry to cause offence but please harden the fuck up.... That is all.