Women like her don’t say things plainly. They say things like, « That dress is very brave of you, » or « You must feel so relieved to finally have some stability. »
They smile when they say it. They make you wonder afterward if you imagined the blade.
Deborah didn’t like me.
I tried for three years to change her mind. I sent thank-you notes after every dinner.
I invited her to the dress fitting twice.
I let her weigh in on the flowers, even though she chose something she complained about at every subsequent meeting.
Russell told me to stop trying so hard.
I told him I was raised to try.
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