My new apartment wasn’t impressive, but its windows caught the sunrise.

My daughters slept in the room beside mine, healthy and safe.

My work gave me a way to plan rather than plead.

Friends came by without requiring me to explain why I deserved them.

Once in a while Brandon apologized again.

I didn’t discourage him, but I didn’t make the apology the center of our story.

His relationship with Piper and Quinn would be written by the choices he made every week, not by any perfect speech.

That night, after the birthday dishes were done, I stood in the girls’ doorway.