~Reo’s~

“You’re not here to impress me, Reo.”

Dr. Nia says it calmly, like she’s reminding me to breathe. Like she’s reminding me I’m not in a boardroom. I’m not negotiating some deal. I’m not trying to win.

I nod once. Then again, slower.

The chair is softer than I remember. Or maybe I just don’t fight the comfort anymore. Her office smells like cedarwood and grounded tea leaves today, and it’s quiet. Too quiet. The kind of quiet that makes you hear things you’ve spent years trying to mute.

I look out the window. It’s raining a little. Just a drizzle. Not enough to flood, but enough to feel...