Chapter 23 - DARROW GETS OLD
At sixty-five, I retired from full-time work.
Not from life.
Liesl joked:
“You finally stopped being terrifying.”
“I’m still terrifying.”
“You own orthopedic shoes.”
Cruel child.
We laughed.
I became better at quiet.
Not avoidance.
Quiet.
Difference.
When conflict happened, I spoke earlier.
Small no.
Clear no.
No explosion after months of surrender.
Serena had asked that of me.
Late.
Still useful.
I dated eventually.
Never remarried.
Not because Serena remained sacred.
Because I liked my life.
No tragic widower requirement.
No compulsory second romance.
Liesl had partners.
Breakups.
Career.
Her own adulthood.
May you like
Nolene became one story among many.
That was healing.
