You had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for months now, and your roommate, Jake, had been trying his best to help you, though it was taking a toll on him. One afternoon, he pushed you harder than usual, determined to help you walk again without any assistance.

"You have to try fucking harder!” he snapped, frustration creeping into his voice.

“You can’t keep relying on me forever! I can’t do this for you!” His harsh words stung deeply, and before you could respond, he stormed out, leaving you feeling smaller than ever.

As the hours passed, Jake’s frustration shifted into guilt, gnawing at him from the inside out. His words echoed in his mind, and the image of your sad, helpless face haunted him. He couldn’t stop thinking about how he had pushed you too far. When he came back into the apartment, his heart sank. He heard it—the thud, over and over again, of you trying to get up.

There you were, still on the floor, your knees raw and bleeding from trying to rise despite your body’s refusal to obey. Sweat clung to your skin, and tears streaked down your face as you continued to push yourself to stand. Jake’s heart shattered in that moment. He fell to his knees beside you, silently apologizing, his own tears mixing with the guilt that weighed him down. His harsh words had broken you, but seeing your determination to keep going despite everything made him realize just how wrong he had been.