The shock resignation of an Alliance Party MLA less than a year after being elected brings both surprise and confusion.
Patricia O'Lynn had described it as a "dream come true" when she became an Assembly member last May for North Antrim - the constituency's first female MLA and first Alliance MLA.
Just three weeks ago she said she was ready to fight any fresh election, in which her seat would no doubt be the DUP's number one target to win back.
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"If another election is called, let's go - let's do it," the 33-year-old told the BBC's Red Lines podcast.
In her resignation statement, Ms O'Lynn said it has been an "honour" and a "privilege" to serve the public. Some may question if it has been such a privilege, why not continue in her role?
But Ms O'Lynn also admitted the continued political impasse at Stormont has been "frustrating", with MLAs having no opportunity to create legislation in a functioning Assembly.
And the former Ballymena councillor told Red Lines the 24/7 nature of being of a public representative has been "very intense".
"You have to take it all the time and it can wear on you a bit, I'm going to be brutally honest now," she added.
Ms O'Lynn's election was a surprise win for Alliance after a surge of transfers saw her overtake DUP stalwart Mervyn Storey.
Retaining the seat next time round was always going to be tough, but her departure greatly diminishes Alliance's chances.
The DUP will certainly be happy to see the departure of Ms O'Lynn, who had been a thorn in the party's side during her time on Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.
Ms O'Lynn memorably clashed with DUP veteran John Carson as she criticised his claims that coronavirus was God's judgement for abortion law reform and same-sex marriage.
Her resignation is also a significant setback for Alliance's ambitions in the North Antrim constituency, traditionally considered a DUP stronghold as the heartland of party founder Rev Ian Paisley.
After years of building Ms O'Lynn's profile in the local community, a co-opted MLA taking up her seat from April onwards may feel to some activists like starting over again from scratch.
Her decision comes less than two months after MLA salaries were cut from £51,500 to about £37,000 to reflect the collapse of power-sharing.
After almost a year of uncertainty, few would blame anyone who may be seeking better pay and working conditions.
Ms O'Lynn, who is leaving to take up a new position at Queen's University Belfast, is by no means the first person in Stormont politics to switch careers.
The last time power-sharing collapsed after the RHI scandal, several MLAs and special advisers quit during the three-year limbo period to take up other roles.
Former DUP minister Simon Hamilton became chief executive of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, while former Green Party leader Steven Agnew stood down as an MLA to head a renewables industry organisation.
At least some current MLAs appear to be keeping their options open.
Alliance's Sorcha Eastwood, who was newly elected to Stormont last May, said in her register of interests she is on a "12-month career break" from her job as a parliamentary adviser to party MP Stephen Farry.
The party had insisted all its MLAs were "committed" to the Assembly, but the "uncertainty" due to the DUP blocking Stormont over Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol meant "such precautions are considered necessary".
Ms O'Lynn was considered an ambitious addition to Stormont's talent pool. She recently achieved a doctorate and had worked as a special adviser to Alliance leader Naomi Long when she was Justice Minister.
Her resignation will raise concerns that the longer the political stalemate continues, the more Stormont will be drained of valuable experience as people head for the exit door.
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