Hi Caroline. A few things. First, I did not surrender my right to have an opinion when I became a counselor, nor am I your counselor (counselors hear that argument all the time, mostly when there is any form of disagreement. It is, at best, intellectually dishonest.)

Second, if you don’t have a counselor who is unwilling to literally say, word for word, my original comment, then fire that counselor, as they aren’t doing their job.

Third, I am happy to engage in a dialogue about your story, and I can certainly do it without sarcasm.

Fourth, if my response bothers you, consider revising your prose. It is ultimately the responsibility of the author to convey a clear message. It’s not up to the reader to fill in the gaps.

It’s easy to come at me with a frowny face and passive aggressive comments about my professional efficacy. Instead, do the hard thing. Turn that lens inward. After all — how do you suppose authors grow?