That’s mine to manage.”

She shrugged as though she did not care, then sat beside me instead of going upstairs.

Another time, a shift changed and I missed the beginning of a performance.

Somebody we trusted was there, and I arrived as soon as I could.

The child performing saw the empty seat first and my face later.

I could not repair that by telling myself I never missed anything.

I told her I was sorry, listened to how it felt, and asked to hear about the part I had not seen.