I wanted to say… I’m sorry. – He finally looked at her, and she saw not anger in his eyes, but only endless exhaustion and remorse. — For everything. You were right. I’m weak, useless…
— Don’t, Mike, – Susan interrupted him gently. She no longer wanted to humiliate him. It was all in the past. — Just live your life. And try to be happy. Without your mom.
He gave a bitter smile.
— You think that’s possible?
— Anything is possible if you want it to be.
She left without looking back.
Signing the settlement agreement was the point at which Susan could finally breathe again. The fear, the tension, the anticipation of the next blow were gone. She withdrew the police report, and the nightmare that had lasted for months was over. But immediately afterward, an overwhelming apathy set in.
Throughout the struggle, she had been focused, mobilized, like a soldier at war. But now that the war was over, her strength deserted her. She would come home from work and just lie on the couch, staring at the ceiling. She didn’t want to do anything: not read, not watch movies, not see friends. She lost weight, and dark circles formed under her eyes.
— Honey, you can’t go on like this, – her mother said with concern. — You’re going to make yourself sick. Maybe you should see a doctor?
— I’m just tired, Mom, – Susan would reply. — It’ll pass.
But it didn’t pass. She felt broken, empty. The victory brought her no joy, only a sense of void. It was as if she had lost a part of herself along with the marriage. She often cried at night, quietly into her pillow, so as not to wake her parents. She wasn’t mourning Mike, but her shattered dreams, her seven lost years.
One evening, as she was again lying listlessly in front of the TV, her father came into the room.
— Enough moping, – he said, turning off the television. — Get dressed.
— Where are we going? – Susan asked indifferently.
— You’ll see.
He drove her out of the city to a small town on the riverbank. They got out of the car and walked down a path to the water. The evening was quiet and warm. The sun was setting, painting the sky in soft shades of pink and gold. They stood on the bank in silence for a long time, listening to the lapping of the water and the cries of gulls.
— You know, – her father broke the silence, — when your mother got sick many years ago, the doctors said her chances were slim. I thought my life was over. I walked around in a fog, not seeing or hearing anything. Then one day I came here, sat on this very rock, and just watched the river. Watched how it flows, no matter what. And I realized that life is like this river. It will keep flowing. You just have to find the strength to swim with it, not drown.
He looked at Susan.
— Your life isn’t over, honey. It’s just beginning. Yes, you lost seven years. But you have decades ahead of you. And it’s up to you to decide what they will be like. Whether you’ll sit around feeling sorry for yourself or get up and move on.
Susan looked at her father, and tears welled up in her eyes again. But these were different tears.
— Thanks, Dad, – she whispered.
They sat on the bank until dark, and when they drove home, Susan felt the ice in her soul beginning to melt. The next day, she woke up feeling as if she had truly slept for the first time in weeks. She did her morning exercises, took a contrast shower, and made breakfast for the whole family.
— Oh! – her mother said in surprise, seeing her in the kitchen. — You’re up early?
— Decided to start a new life, – Susan smiled.
After work, she didn’t go home but went to the fitness club she had been eyeing for a long time. She bought a year-long membership. Then she went to a bookstore and bought several books she had long wanted to read. In the evening, she called a friend she hadn’t seen in almost a year.
— Sarah, hi! Do you have plans for the weekend? Maybe we could go out somewhere?
Life was slowly but surely getting back on track. Susan started smiling again, meeting up with friends, making plans for the future. She didn’t know what lay ahead, but she was no longer afraid. She knew she could handle whatever came her way.
The sale of the condo and the division of the money went surprisingly smoothly. Mike, apparently under strict orders from his lawyer, created no obstacles. He silently signed all the papers, and a month later, Susan’s share—70% of the market value of their former family home—was deposited into her account. The sum was substantial. It was more than enough not only to buy her own apartment but also for a good renovation and new furniture.
On the day the money came through, Susan’s boss, Mr. Peterson, called her into his office.
— Susan, have a seat. – He pointed to the chair opposite his desk. — I need to talk to you.
Susan tensed. Had Eleanor finally gotten to her workplace and spread some vicious rumor?
— I know you’ve been through a difficult time in your personal life lately, – her boss began. — And I truly appreciate that it hasn’t affected your work in any way. On the contrary, your last quarterly report was simply outstanding.
— Thank you, Mr. Peterson, – Susan breathed a sigh of relief.
— In light of that, and the fact that our CFO is retiring, I would like to offer you the position.
Susan was speechless. Chief Financial Officer! This wasn’t just the next step in her career. It was a leap of several steps.
— I… I don’t know what to say, – she stammered. — This is so unexpected.
— I think it’s perfectly expected, – her boss smiled. — You’re the best specialist in our department. Responsible, competent, with excellent analytical skills. I’m confident you can handle it. The salary, of course, will be commensurate. – He named a figure that made Susan’s head spin.
— I accept, – she said firmly, regaining her composure. — Thank you for your trust. I won’t let you down.
Leaving her boss’s office, Susan felt as if she had grown wings. A new position, a new salary, a new life. She immediately called her parents to share the good news.
— That’s my girl! – her mother rejoiced. — I always knew you were capable.
— I’m proud of you, – her father said with quiet gravity.
That evening, they celebrated with a family dinner. As Susan raised her glass of champagne, she thought about how amazing life was. Just a few months ago, it felt like everything had fallen apart. And now, new horizons were opening up before her, horizons she had never dared to dream of.
The next day, she dove headfirst into her new job. There was a mountain of work. She had to take over from the retiring CFO, learn her new responsibilities, and get up to speed on the company’s strategic plans. Susan worked with renewed energy. She loved the feeling: being needed, making important decisions, seeing the results of her labor.
At the same time, she began looking for a new apartment. She knew exactly what she wanted: bright, spacious, with large windows, and in a new building. After a long search, she found the perfect option—a two-bedroom condo in a new residential complex being built on the riverbank. The building was scheduled for completion in a year, giving her time to plan the design and arrange for renovations. She invested almost all the money from the sale of her old apartment into the new one without regret. This was her place, her fortress, her future.
Time flew by. Susan was completely absorbed in her work and the pleasant task of setting up her future home. She hired a designer, and together they planned every detail—from the layout to the color of the electrical outlets. She visited home improvement stores, choosing tiles, wallpaper, and flooring. This creative process brought her immense joy. She had slimmed down, her appearance brightened, and the sparkle returned to her eyes. Male colleagues began to show interest, inviting her for coffee and giving her compliments. Susan smiled politely but kept her distance. She wasn’t ready for a new relationship yet. The wound from Mike’s betrayal hadn’t fully healed.
One day, leaving the office, she bumped into a man at the door. He was carrying a large stack of folders, which scattered across the lobby upon impact.
— Oh, I’m so sorry! – they both exclaimed at the same time and rushed to pick up the papers.
— I’m so clumsy! – the man said apologetically, picking up the last folder. He looked up, and Susan met a warm, slightly embarrassed gaze from a pair of brown eyes.
The man was tall and broad-shouldered, with a pleasant smile and a touch of gray at his temples.
— It was my fault—I was daydreaming, – Susan smiled…
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