He was genuinely certain that a man like him would land another position within a few weeks, and that it would be a small, forgettable bump, not worth worrying anyone about.

So he made a decision that seemed, in the moment, almost considerate.

He decided not to tell Lauren.

Why frighten her, he reasoned, over something he would fix before it ever became real?

She had been through so much.

Let him just quietly solve it and spare her the fear.

And so, every morning, my brother got dressed for work.

He put on his shirt and his good shoes, and he kissed his wife goodbye, and he left the house at the same time he always had.