“This is just a blip—” he responds. “A blip?” I spit the word out, regretting my reaction immediately. “That’s not what I…” He heaves a sigh, then tries again. “I just meant that you can be vulnerable, you can lean on us. Do that now, let us be strong for you.” I shake my head, panic rising in my chest because he’s not getting it. “You’re already so strong,” he pushes on. “So fucking strong. I’m just saying that every once in a while you can break—” “No,” I reply, cutting him off and hating the way my voice sounds so harsh. “I don’t mean it like that.” “Then what do you mean? What are you
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