Pause and Think

She says, “No. You can’t go.” Pause. Think. How to react? Be the child, Throw a fit; hiss, scream and spit, Roll around on the ground, all dignity abandoned. Or be the teen, Wail, “It’s not fair! I never get what I want!” Rant and rave, beg and plead, a drama queen descends. Or be the adult, With outward calm and inner rage that smolders ‘Til the day comes that her decision no longer matters. Or…what? What else is there to be? What else can I be? (What else does she deserve from me?) (Just because she’s older, knows more, Wants what’s best for both of us, And loves me…) Oh. Pause. Think. How to react? No. Not how to react, but how I accept: “I respect your decision.”