Chapter 6 - The Apology He Came For
Through the open doors, I watched the board member lean down beside Brent's table. Her voice stayed low, but his face told the whole room what she was saying.
The sponsor slide never went up on the screen. The plaque with his name stayed under the table. His thank-you was gone from the program.
When the board member returned to the microphone, she said only, "Today we're choosing to center the patients and advocates this program was built for."
Nobody said his name. He stared down into his coffee like it might open up and let him climb in.
A few minutes later he came out into the hall.
Dr. Osei squared up. "Daniel doesn't owe you a conversation."
"I know," Brent said. Every bit of the confidence was gone. "I'm asking for one anyway."
I looked at him. "Then use it well."
He swallowed. "I'm sorry. For the train. For the seat. For calling you a fraud."
"You didn't know," I said.
Relief started across his face. I didn't let it settle.
"That was the whole problem. You thought you had to know before you had to be decent."
His mouth opened, then shut. "I deserved that."
"No," I said. "You needed to hear it. Those aren't the same thing."
He nodded, smaller now. "I'll do better."
"Start before the next person has to prove they're hurting."
He walked off without the applause he'd come for.
Dr. Osei brought the chair over. This time, I sat.
"Was it worth it?" she asked.
"My back says no."
"And the rest of you?"
May you like
I looked at the empty doorway where he'd gone.
"The rest of me finally got my seat back."
