Page 50 of What Broke First
“Mom! Dad’s a partner now! We had cake and ice cream!”
Sarah blinked. “What?”
She stepped out onto the porch, looking for Matt. But he was already gone.
No sign of him in the driveway. No text. No wave good-bye. Just... gone.
She stood there for a moment, hand still on the doorframe, heart unexpectedly hollow.
Did he make partner? That was a goal of his. She was happy for him. Of course she was. But deep down, something stung. A milestone this big, and she’d heard it from their kids.
Matt hadn’t shared it with her. Not even a message. And she wasn’t sure if that hurt more because of what they were now or what they used to be.
Had he told Marley?
Her stomach turned. Marley.
Was he with Marley now? Did she know about the promotion before Sarah did? Was she the one Matt celebrated with, the one he clinked glasses with over overpriced wine and self-earned success?
It shouldn’t have mattered. But it did.
The thought of him laughing across a table, leaning into someone else, letting another woman into the parts of his life that once belonged to Sarah, it scraped something raw inside her. Maybe it was jealousy. Maybe it was guilt. Or maybe it was the fear that she was finally being replaced.
Maybe this was her fault. Maybe she had pushed so hard for space that she built a wall even she couldn’t see over anymore.
And maybe he had stopped waiting.
Chapter 26: Silent Hurt
The kids were in bed, tucked in with their stuffed animals and nightlights casting faint glows on the walls. Sarah moved through the house in a daze, still distracted by what she hadn't heard. Not a word from Matt, not even a text to share the news.
Her phone sat face-up on the kitchen counter, untouched until now. She picked it up and hesitated, her thumb hovering over his name before finally typing;
Sarah: Hey, can you chat?
Matt had just racked the barbell at the gym when his phone buzzed. He swiped the screen with the side of his hand and saw Sarah's message.
Matt: Busy. Can it wait until tomorrow?
He tossed his towel over his shoulder, grabbed his water bottle, and moved to the next set. He didn't think twice.
Back at her house, Sarah stared at his response, the three words hitting her harder than she expected. She let out a quiet exhale and replied;
Sarah: Of course. Have a good night.
She placed the phone face down and walked to her room in silence.
Later, lying in bed, she let the soft ache in her chest lull her into a sleepy trance while PM Dawn’sI’d Die Without Youplayed from her old Bluetooth speaker.
The lyrics dug in like they knew exactly where to go.
The next morning, Sarah moved in a fog. She poured cereal, packed lunches, and nodded absentmindedly through the kids' chatter.
"Mom, are you sick?" Emily asked, peering up at her.
"No, sweetheart,” Sarah said, forcing a smile. "Just a little tired."
"You look sad, and you sound like Eyesore," Tommy added.
