“He was going through his own problems,” Mark said, “but he kept looking for ways to make things easier for everyone else.”
I lowered my head.
The man I thought I knew suddenly seemed both familiar and unfamiliar. I recognized his kindness, his quiet generosity, and his habit of carrying responsibilities without complaint. But I had not realized how much of his life he had kept hidden behind that familiar smile.
Then Mark said something that changed the conversation completely.
“I’m not telling you this because Daniel is perfect. I’m telling you because he has been struggling, and I think he’s afraid you’ll see him differently if you know.”
I could no longer hold back my tears.
The Conversation I Had Been Avoiding
I left the meeting room and walked toward Daniel’s office.
He was sitting at his desk, staring at a computer screen. When he looked up and saw me, his face went pale.
