When he became ill, I expected him to warm up to me and forgive us for our previous miscommunications. However, it was just my wishful thinking because Lance returned to be gloomy!

“Alexa, how much longer are you going to be like this?” He inquired as to when we would be having our meal.

“Like what?” In response to his question, I pretended to be clueless.

“Like a parasite,” he told me, and his words hurt me.

To keep my lower lip from trembling, I nibbled it. I fought away the tears that started to flow because angry words were the last thing I wanted to hear from him. As...