​Ten years is not a brief passage of time.

It was never that nothing hurt her, but she only knew how easily a feeling could be turned against her.

How disappointment could be mistaken for disrespect, and pain could return as something she had to explain.

She learned to want less,

to say less,

to let more pass than she ever should have.

Until patience no longer resembled peace, but exhaustion wearing a gentler name.

AR

13.06.26