Unspoken Truths

• chapter 11 •

Karen sat quietly in Dorinda's living room, letting the silence settle around her. It was peaceful here—a haven she had needed to clear her mind. She had left to find some clarity, a little space to think without the constant reminders of the life she was leaving behind, if only temporarily. But no matter how much time passed, Drew and Zara were never far from her thoughts.

Her phone vibrated suddenly, startling her out of her thoughts. She glanced at it, not expecting much, but froze when she saw the notification: 1 New Voicemail from Hubby 😍❤️.

Her chest tightened. She hadn't heard his voice in weeks, the silence between them like a wound she kept hidden. Slowly, with a sense of anticipation, she pressed play, letting his voice fill the room."Hey, Karen... I know you probably weren't expecting this, but I just wanted to reach out."

Drew's voice was soft, a little hesitant. She could almost picture him standing in their kitchen, phone in hand, trying to find the right words."I, uh... I don't even know where to start. I've been thinking about you a lot—about us. Things have been... different here without you."

Karen closed her eyes, feeling the familiar ache in her chest. She could hear the strain in his voice, the weight he was carrying, trying to balance everything in her absence.

"Zara's doing okay, I think. She's been quiet lately. We're spending more time together. I'm trying, Karen, to be there for her the way I should have from the beginning. I'm making sure we eat together, talk a little...she's coming around, I think. But, honestly? I don't know if it's enough."

His voice faltered, and Karen could sense the tension beneath the surface, the way he was struggling to hold it together.

"She misses you, though. And... so do I. I know I don't say it enough, and I'm sorry for that. I know you needed space, and I've been giving it to you. But... I guess I just needed you to know how much I miss you."

Karen swallowed hard, the rawness of his words cutting through her resolve. She had left to find peace, to heal, but hearing him now, it was clear he was struggling just as much as she was.

"You're the glue, Karen," Drew continued, his voice softer now, almost a whisper. "Without you, it feels like everything's just... unraveling. I'm doing my best, but sometimes I wonder if my best is good enough. For Zara, for you..."

He paused, the silence stretching before he spoke again, quieter, his voice tinged with vulnerability.

"I'm sorry, Karen. For everything. For all the ways I failed you, failed us. I wish I could take it all back, make it right. I don't know if you can forgive me, or if you even should, but... I love you. And I don't know how to let go of that."

Karen felt the tears slip down her cheeks, her heart heavy with both sadness and longing. Drew's voice, so full of remorse and love, stirred something deep within her, a reminder of everything they had once been.

The message ended, and Karen was left staring at her phone, Drew's words echoing in her mind. He was holding on, but only just, trying to be strong for Zara while bearing the weight of his own pain. And Zara—her heart ached for the young girl caught in the middle, who needed both her parents now more than ever.

Karen took a deep, steadying breath. She had left to find clarity, but in doing so, she had left Drew and Zara to face the aftermath alone. She had wanted distance, but she couldn't ignore the fact that her family was struggling without her.

Gazing out the window, Karen made a quiet decision. She didn't know what the future held, but she couldn't stay away forever. Her family needed her, and she wasn't ready to give up on them.

Placing her phone back on the table, she looked around Dorinda's peaceful home, feeling the shift within her. It was time to go back, to face whatever lay ahead, and to try to put the pieces of their family back together, one step at a time.