Afterward, I lingered outside the building, my phone chiming in my pocket. It was Alex again. “How’d it go?” they asked, excitement bubbling in their voice.

“I think it went really well,” I replied, unable to keep the smile out of my voice. “I don’t know if I’ll get the job, but I feel like I got a piece of myself back today.”

That evening, I returned home. I knew the confrontation wasn’t over. Dad was waiting in the living room, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Chloe was on her phone, and Mom was in the kitchen, pretending to be occupied.

“I didn’t expect you to come back,” Dad said finally, his voice devoid of the earlier aggression.