The Moment You Know the Difference
You know it in your body before your mind catches up. Someone older in the room says something, about your choices, your marriage, your body, your salary, and you feel the familiar compression in your chest. Not hurt, exactly. Something more practiced than hurt. The careful folding of yourself into a smaller shape so the room stays comfortable. You call it respect. You were taught to call it respect. But respect is something you give. This is something you lose.
