He had believed that because I’d endured so much, I would endure anything.

“I didn’t know I could,” I told him.

“That’s what changed.”

He opened his mouth, then closed it.

Finally he said, “I’m sorry I hit you.”

It was the first apology without a reason attached.

“Thank you for saying that,” I replied.

He waited, perhaps expecting my arms to open, perhaps expecting me to say we could put it behind us.