"I want the White House, TJ. Wives, girlfriends, children, they means nothing compared to that. Do you get that? I am like them, no matter how much you say no, because I'd do anything to get to the Oval Office." Doug took a deep breath and lowered his voice. "But it's gone forever and nothing else will make me happy. Nothing you can do, nothing Mom and Dad can do, nothing that anyone can do about that."
He shook his head. "I'm not putting their happiness first. I'm putting their lives first, which is different." Doug smiled. "And no matter what you think, I know you, maybe better than yourself, but even if I'm wrong, it doesn't matter, because no decision is going to make me happy. Staying or leaving is irrelevant to my happiness; no matter what you decide, you can't make me happy. You can decide how long we stay alive, but happiness went the way of Pennsylvania Avenue."
Doug patted TJ's arm as he walked toward his room. "I'm tired; I'm going to bed. Don't worry about this, TJ. There's nothing you can do about it, so let it go. Just make your decision when you're ready, and we're done."