“Sounds like you’ve been living out of a suitcase all year!”

The words pierced me, validated me, and grounded me all at once. I felt both fully understood and fully exhausted. “Wow,” I thought to myself. “That’s it.”

”Yes,” I finally replied, realizing I had spaced out a bit and quickly glancing back at the boutique owner. “That’s the perfect way of putting it. You’re exactly right.”