[Sticky] The Invisible Line: A Shoulders-Only Betrayal?

So, something happened at the office today in downtown Toronto that’s left me completely rattled. I’m questioning everything about where 'friendly' ends and 'cheating' begins.

I’ve been under a massive amount of stress lately—deadlines, long commutes, the whole nine yards. My shoulders were basically made of concrete. A male colleague of mine, a guy I’ve known for years and totally trust, noticed I was struggling and offered a quick shoulder rub right there at my desk. Just a 'buddy' move, or so I thought.

But as his thumbs started working into those knots, something shifted. The pressure, the rhythm... it hit a nerve I didn't even know was live. Before I could even process what was happening, my body just... reacted. A total, involuntary physical release. I finished right there, while he was just rubbing my shoulders through my blazer.

Now I’m spiraling. Did I just cheat? Let’s break this down:

• Did the Woman Cheat? My brain wasn't even in it, but my body clearly was. Is a physical reflex like that a sign of deep-seated emotional hunger? Does the fact that it felt more intense than anything I’ve felt with my husband lately make it a betrayal of the soul?

• Did the Man Cheat? He had to have felt my breathing change. He had to have felt my body tense up and then go limp. Is continuing that massage a 'bro' move or a silent, predatory participation in my intimacy?

• Is Nobody to Blame? Is the human body just a machine sometimes? If a sneeze is a reflex, can a climax be one too? Can you be a 'cheater' if your willpower wasn't even invited to the party?

If no clothes came off and no 'wrong' places were touched, but the result was the ultimate intimacy... does that make me an unfaithful wife?"