My manager told the entire department I had resigned. I found out when HR asked me to return my laptop. I hadn’t resigned. I’d been on approved medical leave, and my return date was already on the calendar. When I confronted my manager, he said, “There must have been a misunderstanding.” But someone had already taken over my projects, my access to two systems had been removed, and my replacement had been introduced to a client. I asked HR who had authorized the change. They said the resignation had been submitted through the internal system under my account. I requested a copy. When I opened it, I recognized the wording immediately. It was almost identical to an email I’d sent my manager weeks earlier…..

My five children are all college graduates. None has a stable job, and at 67, I’m struggling to pay the bills myself. Last week, one of them asked me for money to attend another job interview. I looked at the little I had left in my bank account and realized I couldn’t keep doing this. Years ago, when they asked to take part-time jobs, I refused. I told them to focus on school because I would always provide for them. I thought I was being a good father. Now I’m beginning to wonder whether I prepared them for the life they were supposed to live………….