“How are you really doing, Riley?” he presses, but nothing about it feels forceful. “I’m…” I trail off and blink back tears. I pull off my glasses and hurry to wipe my eyes, but Dr. Ledlow doesn’t say anything. “I’m okay. I’m closer to good than not, and that’s lightyears better than where I was before. A work in fucking progress, I’d say, but also someone who knows they have a bigger role here and is no longer in a hurry to leave.” I pause to swallow the lump in my throat. “Thank you for asking.”
