I sabotaged my coworker to get a promotion, and now I can’t stand the guilt.

I’ve never admitted this to anyone, but it’s something I’ve carried with me for a long time, and it’s starting to eat me alive. A few months ago, I did something at work that I regret deeply, and I’m not sure how to live with it anymore.

I had been working at my job for a few years and was up for a big promotion. My coworker, let’s call him Mark, was the only other person being considered for the position. Mark and I weren’t close, but I knew he was more qualified than I was. He had more experience and was better at the job, but I wanted that promotion so badly. It felt like it was my only chance to prove myself.

One day, I overheard a conversation where Mark made a small mistake in a report. It wasn’t a big deal, and it could have easily been fixed, but I saw an opportunity. I decided to use that mistake to my advantage. I secretly mentioned it to our boss, making it seem like a much bigger issue than it actually was. I hinted that it could be a sign of his incompetence. It was subtle, but enough to make my boss doubt him.

I didn’t stop there. I also started spreading little rumors about his work ethic, things that weren’t true but could make him seem unreliable. I told myself it was just business, that it was a dog-eat-dog world and I had to do what I had to do to get ahead.

Well, it worked. Mark didn’t get the promotion, and I did. At first, I felt proud. I was excited about the new role and the recognition. But then, the guilt hit me. Mark found out that I was the one who’d said those things, and he confronted me about it. I pretended like I didn’t know what he was talking about, but I knew deep down that I was responsible.

Now every time I see him at work, I feel this heavy weight in my chest. I can’t look him in the eye. I keep telling myself that I deserved the promotion, but I know that I didn’t earn it honestly. I ruined his chances for my own gain, and that’s something I can never take back. I hurt someone who didn’t deserve it, and I don’t know how to make things right.

I regret it. I really do. I wish I had worked harder and earned the promotion without stepping on anyone else. I feel like a fraud, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop feeling guilty for what I did.