Partly Cloudy, 64°
You have hopelessly embarrassed yourself yet again, according to the unmistakable undertones of your friend Michael Singleton's statement that there is "absolutely no reason to feel bad" about being scared to sit on the edge of the bridge and enjoy the city view with everyone else.
"Heights are a very common fear, and it makes complete sense, too. Being near the edge of tall places really is dangerous, so I'd actually say it's irrational not to want to avoid situations like this," said Singleton reassuringly, barely able to conceal his raging contempt for you as he patted you on the shoulder and told you not to worry about it.
"Why don't you come and sit on the bridge with us, you miserable coward?" Singleton would have said were he to speak his mind. "You're missing out on all the great bonding that's happening among all the true friends over here."
Singleton further implied that your repeated apologies for not being brave enough to sit on the side on the side of bridge will only multiply your alienation from your friends, many of whom have already resolved not to look you directly in the eye ever again.
"Even if we ignore your pathetic phobia for a second, the very fact that I am reaching out to you to make you feel less uncomfortable in front of the whole group is by itself enough to prove that I am a better person than you," suggested Singleton with overtly condescending body language.
"Why can't you just communicate your hesitation yourself instead of always having me come to your defense like this?" his tone of voice added.
The feigned concern in your friends' eyes confirmed that not a single one of them will ever forget or forgive this fundamental failure of character today, not even if you eventually manage to overcome your fear, which you have inexcusably failed to explain to your friends is not of heights but of bridges specifically and arises from a vaguely remembered bridge-related incident in your early childhood.
A subtle nod from Singleton indicated that he knows all of this already and hates you for it.
"We've given you chance after chance to show us that you're cool, but this is the last straw," said Singleton, tightening his lips imperceptibly. "From now on, whenever you talk to us, we will pretend to listen, but it will be exceedingly difficult for us not to think back to this one particular time when you wouldn't even sit on the bridge with us and remember this as the turning point after which we would never truly respect you."
"Hey, why don't we do something you want to do?" said Singleton out loud, and raised the possibility of going to get burritos for dinner. Your inability to finish yours, he insinuated, would be the perfect capstone to this day of debilitating humiliation.
