Too many women fall into the habit of doing and doing and doing—making the plans, smoothing the arguments, offering the kindness, extending the understanding. After a while they’re tired. But by then they’ve invested so much effort that walking away feels like admitting all that work was wasted.

Jeremy’s back in a mental health hospital. Again. I’ve lost count of how many times this has happened since his first break from reality—the month before he turned 21. He’s 38 now. It feels like a never-ending struggle.