When I bypass emotion and arrive at absolute, crystalline calm, I tend to make permanent, earth-scorching decisions.

I drafted my reply to Ethan’s message.

Two words, no punctuation. Good luck I dialed the twenty-four-hour customer service line for my credit card provider. “Good morning, premium member services,” a shockingly cheerful voice answered.

“I need to initiate an immediate, hard cancellation on every supplementary card attached to my account,” I stated, my voice as flat as a pane of glass.

“Certainly, ma’am. May I document the reason for the cancellation?” “Because the authorized users have irrevocably lost my authorization.” Within four minutes, every piece of plastic in their wallets was reduced to a useless, decorative rectangle.

I didn’t stop there. I initiated a full digital lockdown. Online banking passwords, security challenge questions, two-factor authentication protocols, wire transfer clearances—I razed the old infrastructure and built a new fortress.