Letter to my ex: The office
By Sarah Reed
Sarah Reed is General Counsel at RA Capital Management. She is the only lawyer to have received the National Venture Capital Association’s Outstanding Service Award, for her leadership role in conceiving of and spearheading the NVCA Model Legal Documents.
May 3, 2022
Dear Office,
Remember how in love we were in those early days when we first met?
It was easy to get out of bed in the morning because we could not wait to see each other. We spent time putting together outfits to look sharp, and complimented each other's daring color schemes and rotating holiday garb. Heck, why be embarrassed – I even wore Crest Whitestrips on my commute in, even though my teeth were about to be re-stained over our first shared demitasse of the day from your gleaming, high-end Nespresso maker. We grew and prospered, in the tradition of storybook happy families. Not too long ago, we even moved into a new place that made us feel powerful and proud – now we had multiple Nespresso machines, not to mention lactation rooms and a gleaming gym with all-new equipment. We invited friends over to ogle the canisters of healthy snacks. We exchanged small confidences in the restroom, ones that would bind us even closer together.
Then we had to separate for what you said would just be a few weeks. It was almost an adventure – our brief absence would only make the heart grow fonder! Looking back now, it is impossible even to understand how we made the mental accommodations when those weeks morphed into months, then years. Truly, it was a sign of our devotion, and the happy memories we had created together, that we hung in there through the long-distance relationship that had never been part of our original deal. It was not as if we had to harbor any secret misgivings that either of us was seeing other people – at least there was that. But after a year of Zoom, in truth, we grew to no longer really want to see each other – in either speaker or gallery view.
And then, oh joy – you announced we would reunite in the spring! I bought a new outfit and could not wait to show you my new teeth that I'd secretly straightened during our remote relationship. There I was, Monday, 9 AM, waiting for you by the Nespresso machine like always. You stood me up! But no, apparently it was I who had misunderstood – we were now on "date night" footing: we'd have a forced, scheduled interaction on a fixed day once a week. Tacos and team meetings. And definitely not on a Monday, which apparently is the new Sunday evening. What is most painful to me is your misperception that I'm in this relationship for the free food. Is that all it was about to you? I thought we were sustained by a deep reservoir of true affection, and, okay, even though we might not be giddy about seeing each other every day, we did actually long for each other's company. I can't even stand to think about the possibility that maybe you never really wanted to hang out with me – that maybe all of this was only in my head.
Fine, I'll confess that I've been on the matchmaking sites – who hasn't these past months? But as much as you've hurt me, I just can't find anyone else who kindles that old flame. So, in the meantime, I'm still here – waiting, hoping. I know I no longer have an assigned desk – a place just yours and mine – but still, it's easy to find me. Remember that our lights are motion-activated! Just wander around the empty corridors until you see that small beacon of light. Please notice my cosmetically corrected smile when I look up at you.
Affectionately yours,
Sarah Reed
Please click here for important RA Capital disclosures.
Related reading
