I drove the long way home because I could not go straight from work voice to family voice

Dear Delyara, The longer road has trees and one bend where the sky opens up a little, and for ten minutes there’s no shop, no crossing, no familiar corner of duty. I didn’t choose it because I was being wise. I chose it because I knew if I arrived home too quickly, I would bring the office with me in my tone. That’s what I’m trying to get better at now. Not protecting myself from life. Protecting the people I love from the wrong leftovers of it. Some evenings, that means ten extra minutes in the car and no music. That’s not avoidance. That’s care, in one of its less obvious forms.