Mother always said that if one must do something unpleasant, one should do it wholeheartedly and not waste effort on regret. - N. K. Jemisin

I understand that mutual dissatisfaction is a factor in their collaboration. I imagine it isn’t a far step from mutual goals to mutual respect, and from there to love.

The child in her wanted to do as she pleased, cling to impossible hopes. The woman in her wanted to make sound decisions, succeed even if it meant sacrifice. The woman would win; that was inevitable. But the child would not go quietly.

Nassun gasps. “That’s horrible!
I don’t bother to explain that just because something is horrible does not make it any less true.