“Understanding a pattern does not make you responsible for fixing it.”

We talked about the small decisions that had led me to doubt my own competence.

Preston rarely said I was stupid.

Instead, he called meetings boring and reassured me that I didn’t need to trouble myself with them.

When I challenged a budget, he gave me an affectionate nickname in front of the board.

Lorraine would laugh, and I would laugh too because I wanted the moment to end.

At home, I had mistaken peace for the absence of argument.