David ushered me into his office, closing the heavy glass door behind us. He made me a cup of hot tea, and we sat on his leather chairs. We talked about Arthur for a bit, and he told me how much he missed having my old team around the office.

He opened the account within five minutes, using the founding officer waiver code that was still buried deep in their system.

I should have felt a massive wave of triumph. I should have felt vindicated as I watched Tyler slink out of the lobby with his head down. But as I walked out of the bank ten minutes later, clutching my new debit card, I didn’t feel any of that.

I just felt tired. The street was noisy, and the sun was too bright. I walked back across the street to my empty house, made myself some simple pasta, and didn’t tell my son any of it. You win, and then it’s just a Tuesday again.