She blames herself. I hurt from knowing that I hurt her. Even when we know all of these other people are to blame. My friends. The media. Not her. Not me.I can’t help myself. I continue the cycle and I say, “I don’t want to hurt you.”Lily is quiet for a moment before she says, “I’m tougher than you think. You just need to believe in me. You know, like a fairy.”I do believe in fairies. I do. I do. The jubilant chorus from Peter Pan fills my ears.I look up at her, tears in both our eyes. Is that how we end this? I trust that I can share my grief with her and that she won’t crumble beneath the pain?She nods to me like go on. I can handle it.
