Chapter 15 - The Fall of HelixPoint
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Stories often portray the downfall of an enemy as a moment of pure, unadulterated triumph. They show the victim smiling triumphantly as the villain is led away in shame.
They rarely show the painful quiet that follows.
In the weeks following Daniel’s termination, HelixPoint entered involuntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Over two hundred employees faced layoffs, and the company’s remaining assets were auctioned off for pennies on the dollar.
I sat on the floor of my penthouse living room late at night, staring at the unlit fireplace.
I didn't miss the man who had raised his hand against me on my wedding night. I didn't miss his mother's cruel insolence or his family's toxic expectations.
I missed the version of Daniel I thought I had known.
I missed the man who used to burn pancakes on Sunday mornings because he was too impatient to wait for the pan to heat up. I missed the man who held my hand while driving through rainy weather. I mourned the loss of a future that had been built entirely on an illusion.
My therapist had offered a piece of wisdom during our session earlier that week: "You are allowed to mourn the person you thought he was, Rebecca, while still protecting the woman you actually are."
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I wiped a single tear from my cheek, stood up, and locked my front door.
I was grieving, but I was no longer weak.
