Shifting blame
Over the meal, he tried to shift blame for his failures onto everyone but himself. ‘If only things were different,’ he muttered, poking at his food.
He cited bad luck, economic downturns, and untrustworthy friends as the reasons for his struggles. His excuses highlighted the differences between us that had always existed.
I bit my tongue, resisting the urge to confront his delusions. Each word he spoke felt like a deflection from the reality he refused to face.