“People trust me with the back of their heads.”

Marcus smiled too.

“That’s true.”

“That’s not a small thing.”

“No, Mom.”

“It really isn’t.”

I went to bed.

In the darkness, I thought about my salon chair.

My notary stamp.

The appointment book.

Ashley sitting in Dale’s company Lexus, fixing her lipstick before accidentally walking into the truth.

Dale’s face when he looked up and realized who was standing behind the counter.

I thought about the fog.

And then I thought about what remained once it finally cleared.

Me.

Just me.

Standing behind my own counter.

With my stamp.

My book.

My work.

My son.

My attorney.

And every part of myself I had always possessed, even during the years when I let someone convince me those parts were insignificant.

That was the whole truth.

And for the first time in a very long time, it was enough.