Revealing her pain
As she continued her story, trying to gain my sympathy, Jenna’s fragile appearance and soft voice betrayed the pain she was going through. “It was so hard,” she murmured, undigested tears glistening in her eyes. She stopped and looked down at her hands. “I never intended to burden you,” she added quietly. My resolve was worn down by her words coupled with her weakened state. I had no idea what to do next.
Reveal her pain
A strained laugh
As I spoke about Jenna’s poor condition, I gave her a soft laugh that emphasized the strained but intimate connection between us. “Yeah, I look pretty awful, don’t I?” she said with a smile. Her attempt at humor in such a bad moment touched my heart. Yet there was still a connection between us, a shared history that wasn’t going to end easily, no matter how much I wanted it to.
A strained laugh
