He gave a heaving sigh as he pondered the proposition before him.

He turned to find the arm of the couch and eased himself into the seat, one hand heavily pressed against his forehead as he weighed his options.

It wasn’t a hard decision, logically.

Emotionally, it was a goddamn entanglement.

Logically, he could just sever ties with the family, relinquish his license and slip into obscurity like a black cat on a moonless night. It’s not really hard, or even all that dreadful. It’d be fun to start over, he allowed himself to think- even if only for a moment.

Emotionally- he’d have to cease talking to both Sarah and Hank. That alone made the decision rough. Slap on top the expected decision to throw away 12 years of schooling and a comfortable lifestyle… and essentially every physical possession that he had gathered in his 38 years of life.

He pursed his lips and leaned back into the couch, letting his head dip back. He stared up at the stucco ceiling.

The more he thought, the more his head hurt. But the clearer the decision became.

He was going to have to go.

Like a cat in the night, he thought.

He sat back up, and then leaned forward, setting his elbows on his knees. He glanced across the living room, to his guest who was seated at the kitchen table. His back was turned.

“So. It’s irreversible.” He stated, his eyes glazed over.. It sounded like it should have been a question, but he knew the answer.

“At this moment in time, yes.” His guest confirmed. “Perhaps in the future, you may return- but at this moment in time we are not able to confirm or deny.” His guest stood from his spot in the kitchen, but did not turn. “Have you come to a decision?”

He rose from his spot at the couch. “I don’t think I have a choice.”

His guest turned around, his eyes hidden behind a pair of mirrored aviators.

“No sir, I don’t think you do.”