Julia Washington

Like, I can't...

Anybody who buys the book in the store, we start talking about it.

It's like a 20-minute conversation.

So I was like, everybody's got to be welcome.

We can't just keep it to just our people.

We have to include whoever wants to have a conversation about this.

Yes, I'm emotionally prepared.

I've been emotionally preparing all morning.

I had tea instead of coffee.

cathartic.

I'm a woman who had a child very young.

I understand, you know, like there's a lot of stuff through this that forced me to remember to have empathy and understanding for the people in my life who suffer from addiction, you know, and especially past experiences and like family court.

Yeah.

I don't want to see the inside of a family court again.

And so like,

Her story just really was the reminder I needed that grace and empathy can exist with boundaries and it's okay.

My note was, oh no, am I going to side with a man?

Your word, haunting.

I think that's perfect.

I think that is a perfect way to put that because she'd share these deep, very sincere stories.