I totally agree--in time the affect of a trauma, as a rule, diminishes, even if, in many cases it does not go away. There may be times that the trauma or its memory come back but it is not usually a 24/7 -365 burden. Though boredom may not seem, to some, a condition that is endured, it is ennervating and mentally and emotionally, even sometimes, physically harmful. It can in time erode love and caring for a partner, especially if there are no changes in the relationship in sight. At that point, staying is harmful to the bored, to the partner, too and leaving may be the only thing that is possible. Sallie's husband seems to have realized, after her absence, that he, too, has been unhappy to a point and is more positive in his own outlook regarding his future.