“Where did you get those?”
“Answer me.”
He sighed.
“Emily, those were stupid jokes.”
“You made them about my face.”
“Everyone was joking around. I didn’t want to become their next target.”
“So you laughed at me instead?”
“I never meant for you to see those messages.”
“That makes it worse.”
Ryan rubbed his forehead.
“I was trying to fit in.”
“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.
