Ed stammered, trying to regain his composure. “It was just a joke, Ryan. We’ve always joked around like this.”

“This isn’t about a joke,” Ryan interjected firmly. “It’s about respect, Ed. And today, you showed a complete lack of it.”

The crowd was silent, all eyes on us. My heart pounded, not with anger but with a swell of emotion. I felt seen, validated, and supported in a way I hadn’t expected. Ryan’s words had cut through the superficial laughter and had struck at the core of what mattered most.