Mother ran downstairs and hammered Father with her fists, shrieking at him to leave. The sound rings in my ears to this day. As I stood rooted to the spot, Father passed wordlessly in front of me and on out the door, never to return. I was in grade school. It was months before I learned the word "divorce" and understood the sad situation. Through tears, I grasped the hard truth that happiness can collapse and disappear in an instant, without the slightest warning.