Rebuild the missing context
Assume the recipient will not remember every date, promise, or earlier conversation. For a message about how to end a relationship with a difficult client, use this factual base: state the role, agreement, effective date, unfinished work, property, access, and any transition obligation.
Say what needs to happen next
State the decision, information, or practical action you need and include a real deadline only when one exists. Give a clear ending, complete the required handoff, and name what support you can realistically provide. Make the immediate next step clear enough that the recipient can answer without reconstructing the entire history.
Avoid making urgency into pressure
Do not disappear, promise indefinite availability, or use the ending to relitigate every grievance. Follow contracts, safeguarding, data access, employment, custody, and legal requirements before the role ends. Do not make the other person responsible for reducing the discomfort that prompted you to write.