I brought it on myself. - Gaby

Gaby's friend brought her stargazing to celebrate her seventeenth birthday. He brought some alcoholic drinks as part of the celebration.

Emboldened by the alcohol, this friend confessed his feelings for her while they were lying down and looking up at the skies.

While she was processing what he said, he leaned over and placed his upper body over hers, and kissed her on her lips.

Gaby, her response speed compromised by alcohol, took a while to react. She pushed him away.

Shaken, she ran off to meet her partner, George, sharing the gist of what had happened.

George was incensed. But not at her friend. At her.

"How could you let yourself be in that position?" he demanded.

Later that night, while Gaby's head was still spinning from the earlier drinking, George ignored her protests. He pushed past their usual boundaries amidst feelings of intense jealousy.

The next morning, George confronted a more sober Gaby about what had happened with her friend.

They had conversations around how she should have set better boundaries to better protect their relationship. How she had been careless. How she had put herself in a vulnerable situation.

Gaby listened. She told herself that the pain she experienced that night was a gift to appease George, who was generally sensible and loving.