“Of course it matters. Do you think Lila is a failure? Or Maren? Or me? We live the same way you do.” She blinks, and I watch her consider it as if the thought has never occurred to her before. “No, of course not.” “Then don’t you dare believe that about yourself. You never stopped trying. You’re still trying. I don’t care what they say, you aren’t a failure. Do you understand?”
