Chapter 12: Work That Mattered

After the workshop, people stayed behind asking questions.

One woman asked for information for her sister.

A volunteer signed up to help.

A man shook my hand and said, “I wish someone had explained this to me ten years ago.”

When the room finally emptied, Roy was waiting by the exit.

He looked smaller somehow.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

“You really don’t need me anymore, do you?” he asked.

I looked around the room.

At the conversations still happening.

At the people finding help.

At the work waiting to be done.

Then I looked back at him.

“I needed respect, Roy.”

His eyes dropped.

“You were the one who thought that was optional.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked back into the auditorium. Epilogue: Enough ⬇️