Shattered Truths

Chapter 12: Confiding in Sarah

Matt drove aimlessly for a while after leaving Claire's apartment, the weight of the betrayal pressing down on him. Finally, he found himself outside Sarah's house. He hesitated before knocking, wondering if he was ready to tell her everything. But he knew he needed someone to talk to, someone he could trust.

Sarah opened the door and took one look at him before pulling him into a hug. "Matt, you look awful. Come in."

Once inside, he slumped onto her couch, struggling to find the words. Sarah waited patiently, a calm presence in the room. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice heavy. "I confronted Claire tonight. Found out everything I didn't want to believe."

Sarah's eyes filled with concern. "What happened?"

Matt recounted everything—the bank records, the financial support for Claire's ex, her lies, and her deflections when confronted. With each detail, he felt the anger and hurt bubble up again, but talking to Sarah brought a strange kind of relief. He finished with a bitter laugh. "She looked at me like I was the one in the wrong for finding out. Like I should have just kept ignoring the signs."

Sarah shook her head in disbelief. "It sounds like she never respected you, Matt. Anyone who would do that—drain your finances, lie to your face for so long—she didn't deserve you."

"Maybe I should have trusted my instincts sooner," he admitted, his voice tight with regret. "There were so many signs, Sarah. But I kept making excuses, telling myself she loved me. That I was just being paranoid."

Sarah put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You're not the one to blame here, Matt. Loving someone and trusting them isn't a fault. But now you know, and you can't let her betrayal keep a hold on you."

He looked at her, nodding slowly. "It's just... it's hard to let go of it all. The future we planned, the life I thought we'd have. She twisted everything I believed in. How do I move on from that?"

"By not giving her the power to keep hurting you," Sarah replied, her tone firm yet gentle. "Look, I get it, you want closure. But you already know the truth. What more could she tell you that would make it better?"

Matt thought about it. He wanted to understand her reasons, to make sense of her betrayal. But maybe Sarah was right—no explanation from Claire would ease the pain or bring back the trust she'd shattered. Yet, he still felt a lingering desire for clarity, as if fully understanding her motives could somehow help him find peace.

"I guess... I just need to know why she did it. She kept saying I was controlling, that I wouldn't understand. But I never felt like I was holding her back. Was I blind to how she felt?" His voice wavered with doubt.

"Matt, people like Claire will always blame others for their choices," Sarah replied gently. "She used you, manipulated you, and now she's trying to shift the guilt onto you to avoid taking responsibility. You don't need to dig through every detail with her. What you need is to focus on yourself, on healing. Don't give her more of your time."

Matt nodded, but he still felt a nagging pull toward the idea of closure. "I hear you, but maybe just one last conversation... maybe I'll get a piece of my own peace back."

Sarah sighed, sensing his determination. "Fine. If you feel like you need to talk to her again, I'll support you. Just... promise me you won't let her manipulate you anymore. Don't let her drag you back in with her excuses. You deserve better than that."

He reached over, giving her hand a grateful squeeze. "Thanks, Sarah. For everything."

They sat in comfortable silence, Sarah's presence grounding him. The pain of the betrayal hadn't lessened, but with her support, Matt felt a small glimmer of hope.