"When you were in the ICU I took your picture. I wanted you to see what you looked like, so that you might go into rehab. I never showed you the pictures, you never went into rehab, and I never forgave myself. I am so sorry."
It's a sad reminder that although honesty isn't always easy, sometimes you have to do what it takes. The gap between knowing what you need to do, and actually doing it, is huge. That person was afraid to risk losing a friend, but they lost them anyway.
