His silence answered before he did.

That hurt less than it should have. By then, I was already desensitized.

“I know how this looks,” he said.

“No,” I said. “You know how it is.”

Without warning, he started crying.

Without warning, he started crying.

He flinched.

“I loved you.”

“I think you did,” I said. “But not more than you loved what I made possible.”

Without warning, he started crying. To his credit, he didn’t put on a massive show, but I still couldn’t feel much pity.

I kept one hand on the door.

“You became a doctor because I believed in you,” I said. “Now it’s time I put that same faith in myself.”

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