But I also remembered his apology without excuses.
“I don’t know yet,” I said. “I am not completely closed to it, but I need evidence of change over time. Promises are not enough.”
He nodded.
“That is fair.”
I told him Madison could not attend one therapy session and expect everything to return to normal. If we were ever in the same room again, she would need to have done real work.
After coffee, Dad hugged me. I allowed it, but promised nothing.
The dress could not be repaired.
Months later, I bought another one. It was a different shade of blue, purchased with money I was no longer spending on everyone else’s bills.
I wore it to Dara and Marcus’s engagement party.
Dara said it was perfect. Marcus repeated that he had no useful opinion about fashion, which had become our favorite joke.
That evening, I felt like the person I had spent years trying to become.
