From (former) co-workers:

“Good for you”

“You will be missed. You were a breath of fresh air”

“We will miss you more than we know”

“You were one of the ones I really cared about.”

“Say it isn’t so! Oh, Murphy, what are we going to do without you? Oh no!”

And from my mother:
“I’m so glad! I was really worried you were going to end up in the hospital..AGAIN!”

And from the mouth of that human amalgamtion of sugar and solid gold-my boyfriend chris:

(On the friday that was my unintentional last day, as I was assuming the fetal position and crying into a pillow)
“I’m very glad you left. I couldn’t be with a woman who would settle.”

(later that same night when the sobs had turned back into smiles)
“We’re going to have to follow you around with mops and sponges. You will be leaving puddles of creative juices wherever you go!”

Thank you, all my friends. For being the wonderful people you are and recognizing the extremely difficult but right thing for me to do. Or even if you didn’t understand it, you were generous with your big hearts anyway. I won’t forget you.