The therapist asked me to describe my fears.

I said, “Sharp objects. Budget meetings. Clearance stickers. The phrase ‘half off.’”

She nodded gently. Too gently.

“And when did this begin?”

I told her I’ve always been numerically vulnerable.

Ever since I heard someone say, “We could probably trim this.”

Trim.

Do I look ornamental?

The therapist clarified that no one would be physically altered.

That helped for about seven seconds.

Then she used the word “adjustments.”

I flinched.

She gave me homework:
“Notice when you catastrophize.”

I told her I don’t catastrophize.

I scenario-plan for worst-case structural division.

She wrote something down.

It was underlined.

Twice.