Behind the polished counters and expensive chairs were debts and decisions I hadn’t been allowed to understand.

That week I met with a financial counselor who helped me set a realistic budget.

My old salary wouldn’t cover everything immediately, and childcare would become an expense when I returned to work.

We discussed temporary support, public resources available to families, and how to rebuild credit if accounts had been compromised.

The counselor asked me to name one thing I could control that day.

“My bank password,” I said.