The letter

Dear Eric,

Last Saturday night, I did something awful: I interfered in your life and made a fool of myself when I told Sarah that Claire was sleeping with you in your bedroom. My actions were thoughtless and base; the kind of actions for which there is no sound and clear justification. Despite this, I still want to try to explain why and how this happened because, among other things, I feel you are entitled to an explanation.
To be perfectly honest, I have always been jealous and even envious of you, Eric. It seems that, for as long as I have known you, you have never had much trouble when it comes to women—especially in recent months now that you are playing the field more. That sort of thing seems to come easily to you and, by comparison, is very difficult for me…
That night I had been drinking copious amounts of alcohol. Drinking to the point where my judgment had all but disintegrated. You had been the better man that night in leaving me alone with Claire. That showed a lot of character and decency on your part; where some would have stuck around and ran interference, you gave me a chance to spend some time with her alone. Thank you for that. It meant a lot to me.
When Claire wandered into your room and insisted on staying there (a decision that was all her own) I felt defeated. You had not done much in terms of flirting with her that evening, and yet, there she was on your bed; whereas I on the other hand had spent the night jockeying for her attention and favor. I was angry and bitter at circumstances that were beyond my control. Feeling helpless, and bruised I figured I would let things be and just fall asleep on your couch. I had no conscious recollection of going to Sarah and telling her about you and Claire until I received your text message the next night and began to piece the fragments of that night together in my memory. I want to make it clear that if I was sober I would have just left you two alone as you had done for me. But instead, I drunkenly got up and acted on a wretched, jealous impulse and told on you. It was nothing short of childish and I regret that I had done it.
The simple matter of me being drunk does not excuse my actions in any way, however. I want to take this opportunity to formally apologize for what I did to you that night. I am sorry. Sorry for putting you in such a terrible position, and sorry for acting in such a despicable way.
I value our friendship very much and I hope that we can move past this and enjoy each other’s company for many, many more years to come.