I freely give trust (within limitations) once to any new person in my life. Once that trust is betrayed it must be earned back. The process of re-earning that trust is, I will admit, difficult to the extreme. I place great importance on trust, honor and truth. Once either of those have been desecrated I demand higher standards in return. Once bitten twice shy, Do me wrong once shame on you, do me wrong twice shame on me. This are applicable in a circumstance like this.

Everyone isn't meant to be in your inner circle. If someone has proven themself untrustworthy, then I'd think twice before letting that person be close to you again. We toss the term "friend" around so much, but what does that really mean? A true friend is there for you through thick and thin. They are the first person we want to tell something good or bad to. A true friend is someone that can be trusted and has your best interest at heart. We have several acquaintences and people that we know. However, if we have just one true friend in life, then we are truly blessed. You can forgive this person who did you wrong and try not to be bitter, because that will only weigh you down. However, I don't know if this person is really a true friend. Even if they are "genuinely sorry," a true friend would never screw you over or stab you in the back. Some people have alterior motives and it sounds like this person has revealed their true colors. You are probably better off without someone like that in your life.

Nope. Once I pull the knife out of my back, you're done.

Experience tells me that they will do it to you again.

Actually probably neither. Merely an effort to keep things relatively tension free. And maintain a working relationship for whatever reason. Perhaps it would be in your best interest to do the same. But don't let yourself be used again.

I hate to be a doom-sayer, but in my expierence, yes, you are just being set up for another fall.

No - Once they screwed me like that I'm done - A friend would not do that to begin with

The writer Maya Angelou says (and I kick myself when I forget this) Believe people the first time they show you who they are. That doesn't mean you have to treat them with contempt. It just means you're conscious of who they are and you govern yourself accordingly. You'll be amazed at how holding that one truth within you can transform the negative behaviors of others (in your presence) and/or protect you from their negativity.

Everyone can make a mistake or hurt someone without meaning to - that does not make them a horrible person and unworthy of any future attempt at being friends.

Be generous but cautious. They showed you another side of themselves and what they are willing to do, and you shouldn't ignore that. You don't know their motives until they play their hand, and they demonstrated their deceptive nature. Give them a chance to make amends, but be alert for a repeat performance until such time as they have given you reason to trust them again, which should take a good, long, slow while.

True story....I met this girl while she was pregnant. We became close friends, shopped together, the whole nine. I was THERE while she was giving birth to her son...held one of her legs back, was named godmother to the little boy.... About a month and a half after she had her son, my debit card went missing. Since I'm forgetful and figured I had misplaced it, I didn't cancel it...I thought it would show up (I was 20 at the time). I ended up just writing checks for a couple of days... The girl invited me to go shopping with her since her mom had sent her some money for the baby. She took me and another girl we were friends with to the mall, bought us stuff, even treated us out to eat. I thought it was really nice, you know? Just a good friend... So, the next day I find out that my account is overdrawn by about $700 and all the checks I had been writing had bounced. Turns out, my "friend" had stolen my card and used my pin number to withdraw everything I had in the account. It got turned over to the police and she paid me back in full through the court system. A couple months later, she called and apologized and said she was going through post pardum, and wanted to still hang out and be friends. Put it all behind us, you know? I laughed hysterically and hung up on her. In response to your question...NO. I would NOT forgive someone who had royally screwed me. I wouldn't give them the chance to do it again.

Forgive yes, Forget no. It'd never really be the same again though.