I’ve been lucky enough to be pretty healthy most of my life. It was never wounds or colds that made me the sickest. My old man’s voice rings in my ears. “I always knew you were mediocre, Dominic, but today, you were a bad leader. And sometimes, the best thing a bad leader can do is walk away.” I let out a heavy breath, watching the quiet teenager as seriously as he’s watching the window. “You’re not weak, Soren.” His lips compress, and I soften my voice. “But you need to think about which words you take to heart—or it won’t be long before they define who you are.”
