Shemay Lee

Long-Form Manga LF003

The Conflict of Interest

If you really want what is best for me, you have to be willing to admit that it may not be you.

Tony and Shemay sit across from each other in a quiet cafe as Shemay says sorry is not enough.
Shemay asks what she needs to do for Tony to let her back into his life.
Tony explains that a list would become a checklist Shemay might treat as access.
Tony says accountability is not a key that unlocks access back to him.
Tony asks Shemay to think like a lawyer while she realizes she already is one.
Tony tells Shemay to pretend he is her client and his best interest is her only job.
Tony stops Shemay when she starts representing herself instead of advising for him.
A legal folder between Tony and Shemay makes the conflict of interest explicit.
Tony explains that guilt does not give Shemay unlimited access to him.
Tony calmly lists boundaries around calls, reassurance, forgiveness, dating updates, friends, and appeals.
Shemay asks whether she is supposed to disappear and Tony says yes if that is what he needs.
Tony distinguishes punishment from boundaries and says his job is to protect himself.
Tony explains that contacting him after a no-contact boundary would put Shemay’s need above his boundary.
Tony asks Shemay what she would advise if someone lied to him, broke trust, scared him, and then apologized.
Shemay pauses with tense hands and softly advises Tony not to rush.
Shemay advises Tony not to trust the apology alone, reopen contact from guilt, or ignore feeling safer away.
Tony tells Shemay she is finally thinking about his best interest and she realizes it may not include her.
Tony says Shemay can only become safe by understanding why she might never be part of his life again.
Tony says renewed access would depend on his decision that it is safe, not on apologies or timelines.
Shemay leaves the cafe alone after Tony asks her to respect space and care without needing inclusion.