I carried the food to the dining table and headed back to the room where Emily was still sitting, looking vulnerable and hurt. I didn't feel like continuing our intense conversation, but I couldn't just ignore her either. She had been pouring her heart out to me, and it would be a jerk move to just walk away. So, I took a deep breath, trying to muster up some empathy, and sat down beside her, hoping we could find a way to move forward, even if it was just a silent meal together.
The silence was suffocating, so I tried to break it with a lighthearted comment.
"Hey, I'm starving! I ordered dinner, want to join me?" But she just shook her head, her eyes still red from crying.
I persisted.
"Come on, you should eat something, you look weak."
