Veronica had been passing by, deeply hurting from Max’s daily comments. She had stopped and told Edward, “My husband talks about me like that. I hate hearing it from him, and I don’t like hearing it from you either.”
That brief, honest interaction had stayed with Edward for years.
“Veronica never told me what I should weigh,” Edward said, his voice echoing across the quieted reception. “She never told me I would be more valuable if my body changed. She just made me realize I had started speaking to myself the same way someone else was speaking to her.”
Max attempted to dismiss the speech, claiming Veronica had simply “inspired him to get in shape.”
“No,” Edward countered firmly. “That is exactly what you still don’t understand. She didn’t fix me. There was nothing wrong with me that needed fixing before I deserved to enjoy my own life.”
Edward handed the trousers to Max. “You looked at me tonight and decided my appearance proved something about Veronica’s worth. So tell me—why are you still trying so hard to prove it?”
For the first time all evening, Max had nothing to say.
Breaking the Cycle
