"Her"

Continue?

"We haven't talked in a long time."

"I know. I've been hanging out in the background, letting you take care of some things on your own."

"What do you think about my progress?"

"It's time to take risks. You play things too safe. You worry too much. It's time to go places in your two careers. Next year is the time to make new contacts."

"I'm disappointed that it wasn't this year."

"That's the thing about life: there are always more opportunities to try again. Things don't end just because you fail the first time."