Chapter 14 - Melody Stopped Borrowing Lena’s Shadow
A year after her promotion dinner, Melody applied for a competitive
command position.
She did not tell Lena until after submitting the packet.
“Why not?”
“I didn’t want you making calls.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“I know.”
That was why Melody waited.
She wanted the application to belong entirely to her.
She did not get the position.
The old Melody would have blamed politics.
Or favoritism.
Or Lena’s shadow.
Instead she requested feedback.
Her operational experience was strong.
Her planning background needed work.
She enrolled in additional training.
Six months later, she earned a different command opportunity.
She called Lena first.
“I got it.”
Lena smiled.
“You earned it.”
Melody went quiet.
“That sounds different now.”
“What does?”
“When you say it.”
Lena understood.
Years earlier, Melody heard praise for Lena as criticism of herself.
Now she could hear two separate lives.
Two separate careers.
May you like
Two sisters.
No scoreboard required.
