What She Didn’t Say

“What do you do?” he asked, just as her daughter snatched a book from another child, triggering tears. She swooped in, murmured apologies, returned the book, soothed both kids. “I’m... a stay-at-home mom,” she said, brushing hair from her face. It felt true, but not whole. Her mind still burned with ideas, plans paused but not gone. Someday, she’d say more. For now, this mattered most. But the pause? The pause held everything.