Then you make it.
Liam
Just like that?
Alex
No. Not just like that. You make it the way you do. By fighting for it.
Liam
Nobody's ever said that to me before. Except. my mom.
Alex
Then nobody's been paying attention.
I pressed the phone against my chest. Closed my eyes. Breathed.
The way he said that landed in the exact place I didn't know was empty. The way he made the biggest, most terrifying thing I'd ever admitted feel possible instead of stupid.
I'd spent my whole life being angry. Angry at my dad for leaving. Angry at the lake for dividing everything into haves and have-nots. Angry at myself for wanting things I couldn't afford. Anger was easy. Anger was fuel. You could row a 2K on anger and win.
But this—whatever Alex made me feel—it wasn't anger. It was the opposite. It was the feeling of someone holding a door open and sayingyou're allowed to walk through this.Not fixing me. Not pitying me. Just believing in the version of me I was too scared to believe in myself.
And that terrified me more than anything Braden could say or Emily could do. Because anger I knew how to carry. This—I didn't know what to do with this.
Liam
Thanks Alex.
Alex
You don't have to thank me for telling you the truth.
Liam
Yeah I do.
A pause.
Alex
One day at a time, remember?
Liam
One day at a time.
Alex
I should sleep.
Liam
So sleep.
A pause. Long enough that I thought maybe he'd actually put the phone down.
