It's amazing how with a simple sentence, pointedly delivered, can turn years of what you thought was beneign negligence, or just tunnel-visioned errors of unintentional selfishness, into intentional betrayal.

I've been betrayed before. It hurts like nothing else except actually losing a loved one. It's a sting that lasts forever and doesn't dim nearly enough over time. But this time I was struck harder, and deeper than ever, by people I considered friends, and people that I have sacrificed for more than anyone, ever. It's like my soul is draining out through that inflicted wound, and nothing I can do will stench the flood.

But apparently that wasn't enough, and my efforts aren't appreciated.

It's my fault for thinking I could be an employee and a friend, and that my job was anything more than a salary. When you begin to think you really have a personal stake in a place you just work for, and your extra efforts should really matter, you open yourself up for this. Because ultimately, if you do care too much, and you disagree with the way things are going, even if you don't say anything about it, you'll still be labled with "bad attitude" and be punished for it.
Don't ever consider your bosses your friends. It just leads to pain.

No matter how many 15 hour days, no matter how many weekends, no matter how many times you've gone to absurd lengths to keep a project going and on track.

Now, I go to pick up the pieces and move on.

You never look back on these days and laugh.