As her mother gently stroked her hair and back, Diane recalled briefly to her mom the highlights of what had happened the day she’d decided to leave New York, but spared her the details of how things had quickly spiraled out of control for Diane as she unraveled during an early morning meeting, and how the two analysts in her team had panicked while her boss had walked around his desk, to envelope her in a warm hug.  She didn’t mention either that in the middle of outlining her strategy to him and two clients, about how to keep a portion of the funds that she was managing in selected areas of the emerging markets, her legs had suddenly buckled from under her, and she’d collapsed into a nearby chair, sobbing uncontrollably.

In the ensuing chaos, Tom had been summoned, while someone had gotten water for her.  When she’d felt able to stand, Diane had leaned on him as she slowly walked to the elevator.  She had turned gratefully to her boss first, quietly asking for a leave of absence.  He’d quickly nodded his head, as he ran his hand worriedly through his hair.  Had he pushed her too hard?  She was widely considered to be his protégé.  Had he expected too much out of one of his star performers? How close was she getting to the edge?

Once she got to the elevator, however, she’d told Tom quietly that she wanted to head back to her apartment by herself, but he insisted on her being driven home in his car, at least.  She’d agreed to that, and while she sat in the silent cocoon of his car, as it elegantly cut through Manhattan traffic, she’d decided she had to leave New York altogether, and head home to see her parents.

Upon arriving at her apartment, she’d hurriedly packed, then called Christy, with whom she’d shared her apartment when the younger woman had answered an ad Diane had placed.  Diane had found the apartment after her boss had tipped her that the mother of one of his golfing buddies was planning to move to Boca Raton, and would consider renting out her apartment.  The apartment was an unusually large two-bedroom in the Upper West Side, near Central Park.  Diane immediately thought of saving up to buy it, so decided she could sub-let a room while she was still in a rental arrangement with the kindly elderly woman who owned the apartment.  Christy and Diane had hit it off, and later on, after Diane had successfully arranged financing to buy it,  Diane had told Christy that she preferred the younger woman continue to rent a room.  But Christy decided to move to a place closer to Bette and Tina’s, which would be almost equidistant to Columbia University, where Christy had started on her graduate studies.  Diane had been saddened to see her friend go, but had been glad they remained close.