“But sometimes, if we pay attention, they show us that we’ve done better than we think.”
I watched Theo explain the rules of a game to Daniel.
He was speaking carefully, pausing to make sure Daniel understood.
Daniel listened, asked questions, and then suggested a rule of his own.
Theo considered the suggestion.
Then he agreed.
They continued playing.
I felt something loosen inside my chest.
For years, I had measured Theo’s progress by the things he could do without assistance.
Could he cross the street safely?
Could he count his money?
Could he ask for directions?
Could he manage a change in routine?
Those things mattered.
But I had rarely stopped to consider the qualities that could not be measured by a checklist.
His fairness.
His honesty.
His willingness to notice when someone was hurting.
His instinct to ask questions rather than assume he understood another person’s situation.
Those qualities had always been there.
