Chapter 1: The Silent Drive

The car ride to Ryan and Roxie’s had been quiet thus far.

I looked at Sarah as she sat in the passenger seat with her forehead against the glass, her eyes on the passing houses like she was counting them. She had barely spoken since I walked into the bedroom an hour ago. She had given me a few soft answers when I asked if she was okay, and asked one question about whether I remembered anything from last night. When I said we should go get the kids, she gave me a slight nod.

I kept both hands on the wheel and my eyes on the road, but every few seconds I glanced over at Sarah to see if she had moved. She looked like she normally did in her sweater and jeans, like it was just another typical Saturday, but we both knew nothing about today was typical.

What I wanted to ask her was what had happened after I passed out. I wanted to see if she would answer that question and, if so, what she would say. Would she lie to me or would she break down and tell me the truth? Part of me wanted to hear her admit to everything, and part of me wanted her to sit there and remain silent because I didn’t want to be forced to confront the issues. Maybe that made me less of a man; I am not sure. So I did not ask her any questions. Instead, I kept my hands on the wheel, listened to the tires on the pavement and the soft sound of her breathing against the window.