For three years I had folded myself into whatever shape the moment required to keep the peace with this man and his mother.

I had made myself small and pleasant and useful.

It’s hard to explain to people who haven’t lived inside it, because it never arrives as one loud blow you could point to.

It arrives as weather.

First he preferred that I not work such long hours; it made him look unable to provide.

Then he preferred I skip the dinner with my old colleagues; they weren’t really my kind of people anymore.