I like "mortifying"; it says something about the depth of feeling that was both inspired and overcome by his profession, sort of a wealth of emotional background in a single word that makes the second half make more sense and feel like an even greater loss. She gave up something of herself long before he gave her up, and that makes the ending even more tragic and more real. Good choice.
no subject
Date: 2012-10-03 09:34 pm (UTC)