“I know. But pride and presence aren’t the same thing.”
He looked genuinely lost then, not defensive, just struggling.
“I don’t understand.”
“Then let me say it plainly,” I said. “I don’t want to be admired. I want to be known.”
He said nothing.
“I don’t want to walk into rooms and change the air,” I continued. “I want to walk into rooms and still be human. I want to still be reachable without people turning everything into rank.”
“That’s impossible,” he said.
“No,” I replied. “It’s rare. Not impossible.”
