“Then why did you encourage me to have surgery?”
“Because you were miserable. I thought it might help your confidence.”
“You knew I was using my college savings.”
“I didn’t force you.”
“No,” Emily said. “You didn’t.”
Her voice trembled.
“But you knew how badly I wanted things to go back to normal.”
Ryan leaned closer.
“Emily, I love you.”
“Then why were you embarrassed to introduce me to your friends?”
“I wasn’t embarrassed.”
“Then why did you stop taking me anywhere?”
“Because people kept making comments. I was tired of dealing with it.”
Emily froze.
Ryan glanced away.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Yes, you did.”
He extended his hand, but she withdrew hers.
“I thought you wanted to look better,” he said.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
“I wanted you to stop being embarrassed by me.”
Ryan remained silent.
His silence revealed more than his reassurances ever had.
