We did. But that was only because he liked whatever I liked. He didn’t bring anything of himself to the relationship, and I’d known it for awhile now. I was just too lazy to do anything about it. Too comfortable in the easy familiarity of his company. And let’s admit it, flattered that a guy as handsome as him, at least ten years my junior, was so into me when most people couldn’t see past the wheelchair and the broken bits that define who I am. Of course, being a caregiver, Daniel saw past my handicaps to the person I was because it was second nature for him. He did it all day in his work.

“It’s not you,” I said, falling back on what’s truly the lamest bit of break-up dialogue that’s ever come out of people trying to disengage themselves from the affections of another. “It’s me.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I don’t really either,” I lied. “I just know it’s not working for me.”

“This is . . . god, it’s so out of nowhere. I really didn’t see this coming. I mean, you hear about it all the time when a relationship goes down in flames, but I never thought I’d be so blind to it.”

“We’re not going down in flames,” I said. “We’re just readjusting the parameters of our relationship.” Don’t say it, I thought, but the words came out of my mouth all the same: “I’m hoping we can still be friends.”

He gave a slow nod. “Yeah, right.”

“I know that sounded so stupidly cliched, but it’s true. I think we’d work better as friends than as a couple.”

He looked at me, and I made myself face the hurt in his eyes instead of looking away. I was so bad at this, but then it wasn’t like I really had a lot of experience. I’ve made lots of dear and close friends over the years, but you could count my serious relationships on one hand.

“I should go,” he said.

I didn’t say anything. I thought he should go, too, but I didn’t want to make this any worse than I already had. Better to say nothing.

He stood up. I started to roll my wheelchair away from the table, but he shook his head.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I can find my way out.”

“Daniel . . .”

He shook his head. “There’s nothing more to say, really, is there?”

“No, I guess not.”