Chapter 10 - LISA THOUGHT MONEY WAS THE APOLOGYLisa arrived at my home uninvited.
Carrying flowers.
And a box.
Inside?
The cream-colored shoes.
New.
Identical pair.
I stared.
“What is this?”
“I thought we could reset.”
I almost laughed.
“You bought me the shoes you ordered me to polish?”
Her face changed.
“When you say it like that—”
“How else should I say it?”
She started crying.
“I was horrible.”
Better.
“I was showing off.”
Better.
“I wanted my friends to think I was above you.”
There.
The truth.
“Why?”
She looked away.
“Because Daniel always respected you more than me.”
That surprised me.
Sibling jealousy.
Daniel was older.
Successful.
Independent.
Lisa believed he thought she was shallow.
He did, sometimes.
Then he married a woman who seemed completely unimpressed by status.
Me.
Lisa interpreted that as judgment.
So she tried to prove I was beneath her.
By making me serve.
The whole party had been an insecurity ritual.
Understanding it did not excuse it.
I asked:
“Why did you shove me?”
“Because you said no.”
Exactly.
Not because I threatened her.
Because I refused the role.
She cried.
“I’m sorry.”
I nodded.
“I believe you’re sorry.”
Her face brightened slightly.
Then I added:
“I’m still not ready to have a relationship with you.”
She nodded slowly.
May you like
Good.
No entitlement to immediate restoration.
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