Dora's not the only one with some things to work out. I mentioned early in the WCDT (like around page 9?) my theory on his relationship issues.
Right now, he's not a happy camper, but it's not just Dora that's making him that way. He's none too happy with himself, either, for trying to smooth everything over all the time until it built up like this. You could see it in
1797, that slump of his in the last panels, it's an "Oh god, what have I done?"
What have
I done.
Not what did
she do.
It's going to take a while before he feels he can handle anything again. He's pretty sure he didn't handle this well, how he missed all the warning signs, tried to just make it all go away. I won't be surprised if we see him asking Tai for some time off, so he can try to come to terms with how angry he got, how he feels that he lost control. I know a great many of the newer forumites felt it was long coming, and that he was less of a mensch for not doing so sooner and more frequently, but those of us with less explosive personalities do
not find relief and catharsis from letting go like that.
Quite the opposite, in fact. It scares the hell out of us. Just thinking about the times I've lost it in front of my loved ones makes me start to shake.
OK, went from Marten to me way too quickly there. So I'd better stop now.
[picks up broom to sweep up the mess]
[realizes it's too flaccid to be of any use]
Damn thing...