it simmered, a constant, v

sealed" choice, but she

er, her voice dripping with disdain for Jessica's choice and barely concealed

ith your... Trailblazer ambitions, w

per at me, a job se

-time cleaner. And the diner is hiring waitr

bog me down in low-p

distracted to pursue anything t

funneled towards Jessica'

already acting the par

d dreaming aloud about the wealthy men who would soon be

lain to anyone who'd listen, mostly Brenda. "Men find that i

ver, seemed to be interpre

e indecisive.

urs. Deciding what to eat

, began to fray at the edges.

this, grew increa

sica!" she'd snap, forgetting her o

a in an online "Assertiv

ession, complaining it was "too

complied with Brenda

g job. I worked sh

azer Charm was

arper, clearer

lems appeared wit

optimized routes between tables, and subtl

n cleaning, remarking how I organized

ar I could hide from Brenda' s gra

en the house was

books borrowed under t

ust grant intellect; it

he neglect fro

g of being second-b

oundtrack of criticism: "Why c

enabler of Brenda's favoritism. Hi

den behind a newspaper, while

defense. Never a

d to play her part, amplifying Brenda's crit

ories wer

about success. It

lf, that I was more than the Wallflo

ht she was s

was merely forging h