“We haven’t gone out much lately.”
“Why?”
“Ryan thought it would be better until the bullying stopped.”
“Did he stop going out too?”
“No. They weren’t making fun of him.”
I examined her expression.
“If Ryan loves you as you are, why does he keep talking about how much better things will be after you change?”
“You’re twisting his words.”
She reclaimed her phone.
Something about Ryan’s encouragement felt wrong.
The following day, Emily mentioned she’d fallen out with Maya, her former best friend, after Maya criticized Ryan.
I’d met Maya during Emily’s freshman year.
“What did she say?”
“That Ryan wasn’t who I thought he was. She said he’d been talking about me behind my back.”
“Did you ask him?”
“He said she was jealous.”
I suggested hearing Maya’s perspective. Emily reluctantly agreed.
Using the number Maya had given me during an earlier visit, I called her.
When I mentioned Emily’s facial surgery, Maya went quiet.
