MY 4-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER POINTED AT MY BOSS’S EAR AND KEPT SAYING, “DADDY’S THERE” — BUT MY HUSBAND HAD PASSED AWAY, SO WHEN I LOOKED CLOSER, I COULDN’T BELIEVE WHAT SHE WAS ACTUALLY POINTING AT.

was expensive. And I was tired.

 

Then I realized that was precisely why I had to leave.

 

I HAD BEEN BORROWING SOMEONE ELSE’S STABILITY

 

“You’re not a bad person.”

 

Gerald looked up.

 

“You’re grieving.” I paused. “So am I.”

 

He said nothing.

 

“And I think I leaned on you so much that neither of us noticed when the boundaries disappeared.”

 

His face tightened. “I’m sorry.”

 

“I know.”

 

“And I’m grateful for everything you did.” I meant that. “But I need to stop accepting it.”

 

“What are you saying?”

 

“I’m leaving the company.”

 

“Claire, don’t make a career decision because of this.”

 

“I’m making a life decision.” He went quiet. “I need to know whether Lily and I can stand without Nathaniel.” Then I looked at him. “And without you.”

 

That hurt him. I saw it.

 

But Gerald didn’t bargain. He didn’t threaten my job. He didn’t use everything he’d done