The departure confirmation on my phone showed the corrected evening time.

Monday’s briefing was still Monday’s briefing.

Howard’s next work was still private legal work.

Neither had authority to resolve the other.

There was no final divorce agreement in the blue folder.

There was no custody judgment, no order removing Ethan from the house, and no announcement that his company had lost everything.

There were records, questions for separate counsel, and instructions to begin a careful process.

I had decided to separate.