Something inside me cracked open.

“I forgot you,” I said quietly.

She looked at me.

“Not you physically,” I added. “But who you are. What you carry. What you give every single day. I got distracted by titles and salaries and forgot that our entire world functions because of you.”

Her eyes shimmered, but she didn’t cry.

“I don’t need them to validate me,” she said softly. “I just needed you not to make me feel small.”

That hurt more than anything.

“I won’t,” I said. “I promise.”

She gave a small nod.

It wasn’t forgiveness yet.