"I have some experience with loving someone who isn't available." It had turned out differently for Arthur and she, but she remembers when she hadn't believed it would. "It's challenging even if there's no history."

In all it's rather more than she shares with most people, although Emily knows more of the story and Auggie and Arthur of course. It's enough, however, to explain some of her sympathy for the situation.

"And when the other doesn't strive to make it painful. Why on earth would she do such a thing?"