That is the part people often misunderstand about standing up for yourself. They think it is about winning. It is not. Winning is too small a word for what I gained. I gained room to breathe. I gained the right to be seen clearly. I gained a relationship with my son that, while not flawless, is more honest than it had been in years. Most of all, I gained myself.
So when people ask what happened after my seventieth birthday, I tell them this: my son forgot my place at the table, so I stopped waiting in the hallway. I pulled out my own chair. I sat down with dignity. And once I did, everyone else had to decide whether they were willing to meet me there.
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Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction created for entertainment purposes. Any resemblance to real persons, events, or places is coincidental.