Page 1 of Absolute Certainty
1
SAHAR
For the first time in a long time, Sahar Peck felt content. Heartbroken, but content.
Perhaps it was the dreamy weather, accompanied by her own fondness for the early days of summer, when everything always felt a little nostalgic. Delicate. Ineffable.
She loved the wistfulness, the vibrancy. The world rightfully loved New York City during the holidays, but in the early days of summer, it became its own unique spectacle of chaos and magic intermingling in every corner.
Anything was possible.
And today, her little world felt a lot more hopeful. After finally taking the plunge and dying her hair dark, crimson red like she’d been wanting to do since she was in her twenties, Sahar felt a sprinkle of life return to her. A form of control, after she had spent months molding herself into the perfect partner for her ex-boyfriend.
She was on her way to the Hyacinth Theatre for a two-show Wednesday inMidnights at Pemberley: The Musical, but not before stopping in at her favorite nearby spot, Amanda’s Coffee.
Someone came barrelling through the street in a Statue ofLiberty speedo, and a pigeon plunged down for the discarded fries on the sidewalk. Sahar maneuvered through crowds, quickening her already fast pace.
When she stepped closer to the shop, located at the corner of the theatre’s block, she noticed the manager, Jay Callahan. He’d been hunched over, sitting alone at one of the wrought iron chairs, his hand burrowed in his hair.
If he were taking a break, she’d see it as a good sign. The man hardly ever did when she saw him.
Only he didn’t look like he was taking a break.
He didn’t even look like he was okay.
She inched closer, careful not to disrupt him. Catching her approach, Jay’s gaze rapidly darted up.
“Hey,” she whispered.
“Sahar, hey,” he said, plucking his eyeglasses from where they lay on the table. He put them back on and blinked, once, twice.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
He dipped his chin in a quick move. “Yeah.”
Questioning him, Sahar narrowed her eyes.
He stayed quiet, but the heavy exhale he released told her plenty.
Her face fell, her good mood muddied. She wasn’t even sure why it bothered her that Jay wasn’t okay. Though they’d built a pleasing rapport in the few months they’d seen each other from her regular visits, she didn’t know himthatwell. Small talk about Man City here and there, commentary on the latest video game they were playing, and occasionally, Sahar would even berate him for not taking time off.
Huh, well. When she thought about it that way, she did know him.Outside of her coworkers, or her former boyfriend andhisfriends, Jay was basically the personshe’dinteracted with most.
“You alright?” she asked.
He nodded. “I’ll be fine. Dahlia’s inside. She’ll get you.”
“I’m not concerned about my coffee at the moment,” she contested. Pointing to the chair in front of him, she wordlessly asked if she could join him.
Jay took a breath, then gestured for her to sit by extending his hand.
Leveled with his gaze after taking a seat, Sahar examined his features up close. Hidden beneath thick, long lashes, she noticed the shade of brown in his eyes with flecks of gold in his irises, made brighter by the sunlight cascading down upon them.
There was sadness there, too—something dark and weighty.
“Do you always seem this upset when taking a break?” she asked, finally.
“Sahar, I’m fine.”
