competition, words & boundaries

navigating age and other people's capacity for emotional depth

“You look 30,” she said.

Good, I thought. I do, I don’t, I don’t care.

“Do I?,” I answered hesitantly.

“Yes, you look like your colleague. She’s 29,” she added seriously, then chuckled to emphasize her words. Taken aback by her boldness, I pondered, I’m in my 20s; does it matter whether it's 25, 29, or 30?

I went home questioning why another woman felt t…