doesn’t automatically belong to me.
No.
Marriage doesn’t make me responsible for your anger.
No.
Kindness doesn’t require unlimited availability.
No.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean restoring access.
And above everything else:
No.
I’m not returning.
I climbed into my car.
My phone rang.
Tessa was calling.
I answered through the vehicle speakers.
“Did you eat?”
“Yep.”
“What?”
“Soup, grilled cheese, fries.”
She laughed.
“Living dangerously.”
“Apparently.”
“You heading home?”
“Yeah.”
I started the engine.
Tessa said, “See you tomorrow, boss.”
We ended the call.
I pulled onto the road.
For years,
