She did her best to hold herself together, but failed. The tears came, whether she liked it or not. She said, “I’m sorry. I know you hate this.” She apologized like four times as she pushed back under the onslaught. I held her hand. Helpless to do much else. Her battle against her emotions was an attempt to protect me, and I didn’t know what to do with that exactly. The truth hit me in the gut like a punch. I’d made her feel like she wasn’t acceptable this way. Hadn’t I?
