Raised awareness
His touch, intended to calm, instead made me acutely aware of the stakes. Every cruel jab and dismissive comment from Sandra loomed larger in that heightened state.
It wasn’t just about surviving a night; it was about validating, or refuting, Sandra’s view of me. My actions, or lack thereof, would send a message to everyone in that room.
Any show of weakness could fuel her disdain, while confrontation posed risks of its own.