Dawn knew that today was a big day, maybe one of the biggest days of her life. Every year on the first Thursday of November, the firm sent out an email that would be opened by literally every single employee.
The press would get hold of it.
And a few hours later, the list would make the rounds in the blogosphere and on Twitter. Then on to Business Insider. Shortly thereafter, it would make the front page of the Wall Street Journal.
Yes, it was time to announce the crop of 2022 new partners.
Once she became a partner, many things would change. For starters, she'd receive the partner distribution (which was in addition to her year-end bonus) and she'd get special perks — hyper-exclusive galas, private trainings and coaching, access to esoteric (and profitable) investments.
But most importantly, everyone would find out.
The parents at the school.
Her auntie overseas.
Even her doorman would extend heartfelt congratulations.
Dawn knew it was all coming: the new partners had been notified, with extreme secrecy, weeks in advance.
And as the email "hit the tape" and the accolades flowed in, she became overwhelmed by emotion.
But it was not what she had expected.
It was not excitement or pride that she felt but the undeniable experience of emptiness.
"You must be so happy" was the sentiment repeatedly expressed - via email, through greeting cards and, most conspicuously, by the giant bouquet of pink lilies on her desk.
"Happy," she wondered to herself.
She wasn't unhappy -- that was for sure.
But was she happy?
She didn't know.
You see, Dawn had tallied a series of stunning victories during her 43 years on this planet.
She had, without fail, made it atop the podium during her Varsity swim meets.
She’d scored a perfect 1600 on the SATs and thus had her pick of the litter from the Ivies.
When she graduated from a little school in Cambridge (and, later on, added a formidable JD/MBA to her repertoire), she had to turn down offers from one prestigious law firm after another before ultimately settling on one from of the most storied Wall Street investment banks.
She married her high school sweetheart at a small private ceremony in Napa.
They were early in the Tribeca market and own one of the few 2 story lofts west of Broadway.
Modest almost to a fault, she'd never say what she knew in her bones: she was an effin badass.
But then why was she so empty?