A reassuring squeeze
After observing my tense state, my fiancé offered me a comforting hug on the shoulder. Though it was a little, nearly undetectable action, it had a deep significance. I thought for a second that maybe he might intervene and say something. However, as if nothing had occurred, he turned back to his brothers and they resumed their chat. The squeeze, which was supposed to reassure me, instead made me feel more alone.
A Reassuring Squeeze
Raised awareness
Instead of calming me, his touch made me realize how serious the situation was. In that elevated condition, every insult and contemptuous remark Sandra made seemed more significant. It was about proving or disproving Sandra’s perception of me, not simply about getting through the night. I would be sending a message to everyone in that room with my actions—or lack thereof. Her contempt could be stoked by any display of weakness, and confrontation was dangerous in and of itself.
Raised Awareness
