You're Terminated

You dread telling someone their services are no longer needed. Excuses to put off the inevitable arise with every replay of the dreaded moment to come. Fifteen years of honest work repaid with a last request to clear out your desk. Embarrassed moments of tears in the company restroom. A momentary splash of cold water to minimize the red eye. A few deep breaths to quell the sobs dying in the throat. Coworkers avoiding direct eye contact. In the abnormally quite office you can almost hear the refrain, "Dead man walking." You don't terminate a worker - you terminate a family.