When I left my first marriage at thirty-three, I had two young children, no work outside the home, and very little understanding of what a property settlement would mean. After my first meeting with a lawyer, I went downstairs to an expensive city cafe and ordered tea and cake. I remember thinking, This could be the last time I ever sit somewhere like this and order something without worrying about the cost. Then another thought came just as clearly: Nevertheless, this is still the right decision. This is still worth it.
That small moment stayed with me because courage rarely comes with certainty. Sometimes it means choosing what feels true without knowing what it will cost or how things will turn out. The tea and cake became a quiet acknowledgement of that choice: I am willing to pay whatever this costs, because not choosing it would cost me more.
