Then perhaps it's occurred to you that since there's nothing we can do about this mess, we ought to get things sorted enough that you don't get in my way and I don't run off without you?

I'm not about to ask Mother-may-I every time something comes up, and I don't much want or need your permission to go about my life, but it might help with staying close to my supposed guardian angel if we could stand to be in each other's presence for more than five minutes at a stretch.

Neither of us has to like it, but apparently that matters not at all.