I still remember the sound of their laughter.
I remember the way Arthur leaned back in his chair, convinced that the size of his legal team guaranteed victory. I remember Vivian looking at my modest handbag as though it were evidence of my inadequacy.
But when I think about that day now, I do not remember their faces first.
I remember the way I placed my papers on the table.
I remember my hands trembling beneath the surface while I kept my voice steady.
I remember the moment I realized that courage did not mean feeling no fear. It meant refusing to let fear make the decision for me.
My career continued. I remained committed to my work, and I became more careful about protecting the boundary between professional responsibility and private life. I no longer felt compelled to prove my competence to people who had already decided not to recognize it.
