We can communicate about Trevor and any outstanding matters, but I don’t want a personal friendship right now.

Please respect that.

He answered: I understand.

For the first time, those two words arrived without another question attached.

I saved the email and went outside.

The maple tree was beginning to leaf out, and the birdhouse still hung where I’d placed it.

I sat on the porch with the lemon cake and watched two children ride bicycles past the front gate, their shouts drifting through the warm air.

I used to think independence meant never needing anyone.