Chapter 35
The Roundtable
Danguole meets Councilwoman Simona Petraitytė to discuss the televised roundtable, agrees to participate despite her fears, and delivers an honest and vulnerable talk that resonates with the audience. After the broadcast, Simona reveals that the city council has expedited the proposal review, setting a two-week deadline. The chapter ends with Danguole feeling the weight of the accelerated timeline but also the strength of her community.
The next morning, I woke before my alarm. The text from the retired teacher and the therapist were still glowing in my mind—two strangers who had read the article and wanted to help. But the roundtable loomed larger. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, and tried to remember the breathing exercises Laura had taught me.
Inhale for four. Hold for four. Exhale for four.
It helped, a little. I got up, made coffee, and sat at my kitchen table with my notebook. The roundtable was an opportunity, but it was also a spotlight. I had spoken on a live stream to a few hundred people. Television was different. There would be cameras, a moderator, other panelists. I would be sharing a stage with professionals—therapists, researchers, maybe even politicians.
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