Chasing the puck

Chapter Thirty-Two

The quiet hum of the apartment felt heavier than usual, the air thick with the weight of unspoken words. Sarah stared at the ceiling from her spot on the bed, her thoughts still tangled in the remnants of last night’s sunset reflections. Sleep had eluded her, but not because of the tension between her and Tyler—it was the clarity slowly growing in her chest, a realization she couldn’t ignore anymore.

She had spent so long holding on to the idea that love would conquer everything, but now she wasn’t so sure. Maybe love wasn’t always enough. The thought terrified her, but it also felt like a small piece of freedom. The guilt she had been carrying for weeks was still there, nagging at her, but it was softer now, as though her mind had begun to accept that something needed to change.

The sun was starting to rise, casting a soft light across the room, and Sarah knew she couldn’t keep avoiding the inevitable. The decision loomed closer with every passing day, and no matter how much she tried to delay it, it felt like her heart was already beginning to make the choice for her.

Tyler sensed it too. He could feel the change in Sarah, the emotional distance growing larger with each passing day. She didn’t speak much anymore, and when she did, her words felt hollow, as though she was somewhere far away. It unnerved him. He tried to pretend that everything was fine, but it was impossible to ignore the tension that lingered between them like a dark cloud.

At first, he thought she just needed space, but the more time passed, the more he realized that something fundamental had shifted. The Sarah he used to know was slipping away, and he didn’t know how to bring her back. He would reach out to her, ask how her day had been, try to get her to engage in small talk, but every conversation fell flat. Her responses were clipped, polite, but distant. She wasn’t there with him anymore.

Tyler found himself retreating, just as she had. He spent more time at the rink, more time away from home, avoiding the uncomfortable silence that had become their new normal. But deep down, he knew he couldn’t keep ignoring the truth forever. They were drifting apart, and no amount of pretending would fix that.

At work, Sarah was feeling the pressure. The client they were working with was notorious for being demanding, and the tight deadlines were only adding to the stress. She sat at her desk, staring at the countless emails and revisions waiting for her attention. Normally, she would have tackled these challenges with ease, but today, everything felt heavier.

Her phone buzzed on her desk, another message from the client asking for updates. Sarah let out a sigh, rubbing her temples. She had been using work as an escape for so long, but now, the weight of her personal life was starting to bleed into her professional world. The tension with Tyler, the growing sense that she needed to make a decision—it was all too much.

Karen, her boss, stopped by her desk, noticing the strain on Sarah’s face. “Hey, you’ve been doing great work, but I can tell something’s weighing on you,” Karen said, her voice gentle but firm. “If you need to take a day off, or delegate some of the tasks, just let me know.”

Sarah nodded, appreciating the offer, but she knew she wouldn’t take the time. Work was her only refuge, the only place where she still felt in control. Letting that slip away, even for a day, wasn’t an option. “Thanks, Karen. I’ll be fine,” she said with a tight smile.

But as Karen walked away, Sarah couldn’t shake the feeling that she was running out of places to hide.

Later that afternoon, Sarah met Summer for lunch at a quiet café downtown. As soon as she sat down, Sarah felt the weight of everything she had been carrying begin to settle around her shoulders. She hadn’t planned to vent, but the moment she saw Summer’s concerned expression, the words came tumbling out.