I cheated on my wife (text messages only), I feel like I've lost her, I know I hurt her. We have known each other for 11 years, and married for six, with a two year old.

Can she ever trust me again?

It will be hard, I would suggest professional marriage counseling.

The fact that you are asking total strangers a question that only she can answer has me a bit worried that you are going to have a tough time doing the WORK this will take. In other words, most of it depends on what you do, not what anyone else thinks. Can people forgive? Yes they can, but you already know that. So what are you really looking for here? 10 people to say she can, should, what? None of it will matter. It depends on what YOU DO for the next x months, years, whatever it takes.

Sometimes an emotional affair can hurt worse then a physical one. Talk it out with her and see what you can do to make it right, did you apologize to her?

Yes she can trust you again if she feels you have suffered enough, and are sincerely sorry, and will never do it again. You have to take your medicine/punishment like a man, and be the perfect guy, and wait until she feels like trusting you again.

Agreed - whatever happens will be on HER time frame. I don't know that emotional cheating is worse than physical cheating but it IS cheating. I'm an investigator - step #1 is emotional cheating. Step #2 - physical cheating - often follows close behind.

Again - it's her time frame now. I have found (through years in this "business") that there are two types of cheaters - one cheats, feels terrible, will never, ever cheat again. The other is a serial cheater.

Which one are you?