Daniel leaned forward.
“Tyler, can I ask you something?”
Tyler nodded.
“If Emma had looked at your arms and told you she was embarrassed to hold your hand because of your skin, how would you have felt?”
Tyler’s face turned red.
“Terrible.”
“What would you have wanted her to do if her friends started making jokes about you?”
“Tell them to stop.”
Daniel nodded.
“That’s understandable. You’d want someone who cared about you to stand beside you, not help other people make you feel ashamed.”
Tyler lowered his head.
“I know.”
Daniel continued gently.
“Then you understand why Emma is hurt. Your skin isn’t something you should be ashamed of. Neither is her body hair. But neither of you should have to prove that you’re worthy of affection by changing something about yourselves just to satisfy other people.”
For a moment, the room was silent.
Then Tyler looked at Emma.
