“You let me believe you meant everything.”
Stephen reached toward him, but Dustin stepped back.
“I could have found another solution,” he whispered.
“You did not need to do this,” I said.
“I thought this was the solution.”
Barbra covered her mouth as tears filled her eyes.
Stephen looked frustrated rather than ashamed.
“I don’t understand why everyone is acting like I committed a crime.”
“No,” I said quietly. “You did something worse. You taught your son that his body was something he could trade for your approval.”
Nobody spoke.
Barbra approached Dustin and looked at the tattoo.
“I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” he said.
“Every time you see my face, you will remember what happened today.”
Dustin looked down at his arm.
“I’m going to cover it.”
Stephen protested that the tattoo was new and expensive.
“I don’t care,” Dustin replied. “I don’t want to see it anymore.”
