Tuesday went by uneventfully.

Wednesday was dinner with Karen, weak conversation, an empty bed.

Thursday should have been quiet, since Karen was upset with him (read: silent treatment), but Kelly was curious about the obvious tension (read: vocal treatment).

Friday was awkward as he struggled to convince Karen to forgive him.

Days passed.

Life spanned out before him endlessly, and he got heartburn whenever he thought of spending any more of it with Karen.

But he couldn’t leave her now.

Because if he couldn’t love Karen...then he couldn’t love anybody.

(Except Pam.

And he didn't want to love Pam anymore.)