He came into the room with two mugs.

“Work finished?”

“For today.”

I had completed a consulting task that afternoon and sent the final response.

There would be more questions, perhaps an adjustment, perhaps another request later.

I did not have to turn the first finished piece of work into proof that I would never struggle again.

I had done it carefully.

I had been paid for my judgment before, and I could build on that experience now.