of you.”
I thought about all the years I had wanted to hear that.
All the birthdays.
All the holidays.
All the lonely nights.
Strangely, it didn’t matter anymore.
Because I had learned something important.
Validation means less when you no longer need it.
“Thank you,” I said politely.
My father looked relieved.
Then he asked the question I should have expected.
“So what’s next?”
There it was.
Interest.
Now that success existed.
Now that achievement had arrived.
Now that I was valuable.
“I start my new job next month.”
