When we were courting, 26 years ago, I lied to my ex about my military career. I was just a regular sailor, working on the ship. But I told her I was a sniper in the Navy special warfare command. I wasn’t stupid enough to say I was a “SEAL”, but I told lots of stories. I was young and stupid and I wanted to impress her. I’ve regretted this all my adult life. I quit telling the stories long ago, but I let her keep believing that I was this badass sniper with kills in Lebanon and a nasty case of PTSD.

Now we’re divorced. She’s warned my current GF that I’m “messed up in the head” from killing a bunch of people in Lebanon back in 1986, I want to correct this, but I’m scared to reveal myself as a liar. I want to start fresh. Is it fair that 46 year old me might pay for the sins of 20 year old me?