She had never asked before.

We talked about the work I’d done overseas, mostly in general terms.

I told her about my reconstruction surgeries, my rehabilitation, and the friends who had made those years survivable.

I told her the pension did not make me wealthy and that having a disability was neither a shame nor a secret.

She listened.

Once or twice she wiped her eyes with a napkin.

Then she said, “I thought if we didn’t encourage you, you might choose a safer life.”