Chasing the puck

Chapter Thirty-Five

Morning light crept into the bedroom, casting a soft glow across the walls. Sarah blinked awake, the quiet of the apartment settling over her like a blanket. For a moment, she lay still, her mind hazy from sleep, but it didn’t take long for the weight of the past few days to return. She shifted in bed, turning to see Tyler still asleep beside her, his face peaceful in a way that felt almost foreign now.

She thought back to the conversation she had with Summer the night before, the clarity she’d gained from talking it all through. For the first time, leaving Tyler didn’t feel like a vague, distant possibility—it felt real, like something she could actually do. And though the thought of it filled her with fear, it also brought a strange sense of relief. She knew she couldn’t keep living in this limbo. Something had to change.

Quietly, she slipped out of bed and padded into the kitchen, her mind racing. She needed to take small steps today, she told herself. Just small steps. She made coffee, standing by the window as she sipped it, staring out at the street below. The usual routine felt different now—like she was preparing for a goodbye she hadn’t yet spoken out loud.

Tyler would be up soon, and she didn’t know how much longer she could keep pretending that everything was fine. Each moment they spent together felt heavier than the last, and she could see the cracks in his demeanor, too. He wasn’t oblivious to her pulling away. He just wasn’t ready to face it.

With a quiet sigh, Sarah pulled out her laptop and opened the apartment listings she’d been looking at for weeks. She clicked through the options, her eyes lingering on a bright, airy studio in a neighborhood she loved. It felt surreal to imagine herself living there, alone, but also… right. She made a note to call the realtor later that day. It was time to start taking concrete steps.

Tyler stirred just as Sarah closed her laptop, his footsteps soft as he made his way into the kitchen. He offered her a small smile, the kind that once would have made her heart flutter. Now, it only made her chest tighten. He looked at her for a moment, as if considering what to say, before turning to make his own coffee. The silence between them stretched, thick with unspoken words.

“Morning,” he finally muttered, his voice rough with sleep. Sarah nodded, offering a weak “Morning” in return. Neither of them pushed for more.

As Tyler went through his morning routine, Sarah found herself watching him closely, noticing the way his shoulders slumped just slightly, the way his eyes seemed clouded with worry. He felt it too, she realized. He wasn’t blind to the emotional shift that had taken place between them—he just didn’t know how to fix it. Maybe he couldn’t.

After Tyler left for practice, Sarah sat back down at the kitchen table, her fingers hovering over her phone. She needed to talk to her mom. They hadn’t spoken in a while—not since the last family gathering where she and Tyler had put on their best performance, pretending that everything was fine in front of her relatives. But Sarah couldn’t keep pretending, not anymore.

She called her mom, the phone ringing only twice before she picked up. They exchanged pleasantries, catching up on small things before Sarah’s voice turned serious. “Mom, I need to talk to you about something.”

Her mom went quiet on the other end of the line, listening as Sarah told her everything—about the distance between her and Tyler, about how hard it had been to make this decision, but how necessary it now felt. Her mom didn’t interrupt, didn’t offer any judgment. When Sarah was finished, her mom simply said, “Whatever you decide, sweetheart, I’m here for you.”

The words made Sarah’s chest tighten with emotion. She hadn’t realized how much she needed to hear that.

As the day wore on, Sarah couldn’t shake the feeling that Tyler knew something was coming. He was more attentive than usual, asking about her day and suggesting they have dinner together. It felt forced, like he was trying to hold onto something that was already slipping through his fingers. Sarah appreciated the effort, but deep down, she knew it wasn’t enough.

Later that evening, as they sat across from each other at the dinner table, Tyler’s voice broke the silence. “What do you think about taking a weekend trip? Just the two of us. Get away from everything for a bit.”

Sarah blinked, surprised by the suggestion. For a brief moment, she imagined saying yes—escaping the pressure of their daily life, pretending that things were still as good as they once had been. But she knew it wouldn’t work. A weekend away wouldn’t fix what was broken between them.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea right now,” she said softly, watching as Tyler’s face fell. His disappointment was palpable, and for a moment, Sarah wanted to take back her words. But she knew they were the truth. A trip wouldn’t save them.

After Tyler had gone to bed that night, Sarah found herself pacing the apartment, her mind racing. She picked up her phone and dialed Jake’s number, needing to hear his voice, his blunt advice.

“You’ve already made up your mind, Sarah,” Jake said after she told him about the day’s events. “You’re just scared to take the next step.”

Sarah stopped pacing, standing still as the truth of his words sank in. He was right. She had made up her mind. She was just waiting for the right moment, but maybe there wasn’t one. Maybe she just needed to act.

The next few days passed in a blur of work meetings, phone calls, and moments of quiet reflection. Sarah threw herself into her job, using it as a distraction from the emotional turmoil brewing inside her. But no matter how busy she kept herself, the decision loomed in the back of her mind, growing heavier with each passing day.

One afternoon, in the middle of a particularly stressful meeting, her phone buzzed with a notification. She glanced at the screen, her heart sinking as she saw another article about Tyler—this one speculating about their relationship and its effect on his performance on the ice. The public scrutiny felt suffocating, and Sarah had to excuse herself from the meeting, stepping outside to take a breath.

She knew the media attention wasn’t helping Tyler’s mental state, but she also knew she couldn’t stay in this relationship out of guilt. The longer she stayed, the worse things would get—for both of them.

That evening, Sarah started packing. It wasn’t much—just a few personal items, some clothes, and a couple of books. But it was a start. She moved quietly through the apartment, her heart heavy with the weight of what she was about to do.

As she placed the last item into a small suitcase, Tyler walked into the bedroom. His eyes fell on the suitcase, and for a moment, they stood in silence, the reality of the situation settling between them.

“Is there anything I can do to change your mind?” Tyler asked quietly, his voice strained with emotion.

Sarah swallowed hard, shaking her head. “No,” she whispered. “I don’t think there is.”

Tyler didn’t argue. He nodded, his shoulders sagging as he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Sarah alone with the finality of her decision.

The next morning, Sarah met with the realtor to sign the lease on her new apartment. The process felt surreal, like she was living someone else’s life, but with each signature, the reality of her choice became more tangible. This was happening. She was leaving.

Back at home, Sarah made one final sweep through the apartment, gathering the last of her things. She lingered in the doorway, her eyes scanning the room that had once been filled with laughter and love. Now, it felt hollow—like a place she no longer belonged.

Tyler didn’t try to stop her as she left. He watched from the living room, his face a mixture of sadness and quiet acceptance. There were no dramatic goodbyes, no last-minute pleas. They both knew this was the end.

Sarah stepped out of the apartment and into the cool evening air, her suitcase in hand. She paused at the curb, looking up at the building she had called home for so long. There was a pang of sadness in her chest, but beneath it, there was also a sense of relief. She had made her decision. Now, it was time to move forward.

As the taxi pulled up, Sarah took a deep breath and climbed inside, her heart heavy but her mind clear. She was leaving behind a life she had once cherished, but she was also stepping into something new—something that was hers alone.