Daniel never told her she was foolish for feeling that way.
He simply reminded her that caring about another person didn’t mean she had to remain in a relationship where she felt uncomfortable being herself.
Then something unexpected happened at school.
Emma came home one afternoon while I was folding laundry.
“Mom, Tyler stood up for me today.”
I put down a towel.
“What happened?”
“One of the boys on his basketball team made another joke about my arms.”
“And?”
“Tyler told him to stop.”
I waited.
“The boy laughed and said Tyler was being too sensitive. But Tyler admitted he’d been wrong before and said he wasn’t going to join in anymore.”
Emma smiled faintly.
“How did that make you feel?” I asked.
“Good. But a little sad, too.”
“Why sad?”
“Because I wish he’d done that before I went home feeling ashamed.”
I sat beside her.
