When we give in to this feeling of inevitability, we lose sight of how easily things could have been different—how, at each fork in the road, fate could have taken a different path. Jessica could have kept her job. She could have quickly found another one. A relative could have come to her aid. You, the social worker, could have been a more effective advocate. The building manager could have been more understanding and allowed the family a few weeks of respite, making it possible for Jessica to find a job and catch up with the rent.
