Your story has a lot of great elements. I feel the emotional burden behind it too.

Well done :-)

If I may I have at least 3 articles that would compliment this piece quite well. I write about the fulfillment needed from your "work" and define the limits of a "job".

Here is one of the articles i've written about work:

https://akmcclure.medium.com/dont-just-do-it-for-the-money-a37abd3a59b6

I hope you find it insightful

Great work :-)