The Night I Let My Guard Down (And Loved It)

“There’s a particular night I think about when the city goes quiet. I wasn’t in my usual polished hostess mode; I was soft, a little nervous, and entirely unarmored. You didn’t ask me to be perfect—you just asked me to be present. Somewhere between the second glass of wine and the way you laughed at my terrible joke, I felt something loosen in my chest… and I let myself enjoy it.”