Youve proven you cant juggle both, Rob continued. So stop juggling. Stay home, raise my children. Hang up your gloves. For the first time that night, there was a note of hope in his voiceit was faint and desperate, more spark than flame, but it was there.

Rob… She felt like the floor had begun to sway beneath her feet. It was too much to process. She was staring down into that black hole again, an abyss that would swallow her whole if she let it. Joining the Bureau had given her a chance to do something with her life, to be proactive instead of reactive for once. She couldnt imagine a life beyond it.

You dont know what youre asking, she whispered, eyes closed.

Yes, I think I do. And if you love me, if you want to be with me, youll recognize this is best for us.

Her hands trembled in his. She felt cornered, crushed between two worlds she could not reconcile.

Please dont ask me to do that, Rob, she whispered. I cant do that.

He held her hands a few seconds longer before dropping them with a snort. Have it your way. The papers are on the tableI already signed them.

Divorce? Harley said in that same breathless voice. The room seemed to spin around her.

Rob paused with his hand on the door latch. You spend all this time seeing the world through the eyes of killers, he said. I just wish that, once in a while, youd taken a moment to see the world through mine.

With that, he closed the door and stepped out of Harleys life, leaving her to pick up the pieces.

* * *

Where did it all go wrong? Harley wondered as she uncorked a bottle of Merlot. After Rob left, she had spent the next fifteen minutes wandering the house, which was nearly empty now since most of the furnishings had been Robs. She had sat on the edge of the bed and cried, and now she simply felt numb.

Was he right? Had she really treated him as a glorified roommate? Was she selfish to refuse to throw away her career for the sake of their marriage?

She was on her second glass of wine, and still pondering these questions, when her phone buzzed. She was surprised to see her brothers numbershe hadnt spoken with Greg in months. She was tempted to ignore the call, but if there was ever a time when she needed a friend, this was it.

Hey, Greg, she said, trying to keep her voice even. To what do I owe the honor?

Hows it going, Harley? Everything alright? Gregs voice had the usual cheer, but there was a note of weariness beneath it.

Hanging in there, she answered, tipping the bottle of wine and watching the dark liquid slosh about.

Listen, you know Ive been keeping tabs on Dad.

She nodded, forgetting he couldnt see her. Okay, she added.