He spoke softly, but every person under that tree heard him.
“Every time something happened, you assumed it was your fault, Maggie.”
The yard went still.
“Traffic.”
A pause.
“Your kids being kids.”
“You assumed it was your fault, Maggie.”
My fingers curled against my palm.
“Your dress.”
My eyes burned.
“Ryan laughing.”
No one breathed.
“And now a chair someone offered you.”
I let out a small, embarrassed laugh.
“I didn’t realize, Dan… I…”
My eyes burned.
Daniel’s face softened.
“I know.”
That was the part that hurt.
Not because it was cruel.
Because it wasn’t.
Daniel glanced around the family, then back at me.
“One of the first things actors learn is how to occupy space without apologizing for it,” he said. “A stage looks empty until someone decides they belong on it.”
That was the part that hurt.
