I didn’t need Richard or Linda to pay my tuition.

I didn’t need their conditional approval.

A sudden quiet settled into the center of my chest.

The tight, burning knot of anger that had lived right behind my ribs simply stopped burning.

The furnace went completely cold.

I rested my hands flat on the desk.

I didn’t want to prove them wrong anymore.

I didn’t care what they thought of my career or my rank.