At the moment, the biggest downside of sending that email to Mr. A last night is that my anxiety level is through the roof wondering if he'll write me back something terribly hurtful while I'm trying to get through my crazy workday!
This scenario is not without precedent, BTW. He sent me an email on October 21, 2009, telling me (for the first time in so many words) that he wanted a divorce. I went home sick and didn't come back for three days!
No chance of that happening now - both because I won't let it and because I don't have any time left to take off!