to choose, he had still made a choice.

Usually against me.

I learned something too.

I had confused competence with love.

Because I could handle everything, I did.

Then I resented everyone for letting me.

Months passed.

Chloe found a job with a nonprofit downtown and rented a studio.

She apologized again without asking me to absolve her.

That mattered.

Deborah barely spoke to me.

That was fine.

Then, in May, another HOA envelope arrived.

This one was addressed correctly.

I opened it at the kitchen counter.

Inside was notice