Chapter 14 •Balancing Act•

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains as Maddie stretched and reached for her phone. Socks was nestled at her feet, content and oblivious to the world.

She smiled at the peaceful sight before getting up and ready for work.

She had grown used to the quiet mornings, her routine now a comforting part of her life. Though she was still adjusting to the idea of a life that didn’t revolve around Mark, she was starting to enjoy the small victories—the moments of peace, the independence she was slowly reclaiming.

Once dressed, she packed her bag, gave Socks a quick pat on the head, and headed out the door. Mark was already awake, lounging on the couch when she passed through the living room.

He glanced up from his phone, giving her a quick smile.

"Good morning," he mumbled, then looked back at his screen, his tone distant.

"Good morning," Maddie replied, forcing a smile. The silence between them was growing more noticeable. In the beginning, his presence felt comforting, but now it felt almost like a weight on her shoulders.

Still, she didn’t have time to dwell on it. She had to get to work.

At the office, Maddie was in her element. The buzz of the workplace, the focused chatter around her, gave her a sense of purpose. Her team was supportive, and each project felt like another step in carving out her own identity, separate from her relationship with Mark.

She hadn’t told anyone about the cracks that were starting to appear, but she felt them. With every passing day, she was learning to rely less on him and more on herself.

During her break, Maddie stepped out to grab a coffee. The fresh air was a welcome change from the stuffy office, and she couldn’t help but smile as she texted Ethan.

Ethan: Survived the morning yet?

Maddie: Just about. It’s been one of those days.

Ethan: I hear you. Seems like the universe is in a mood today.

Maddie: Tell me about it. Just a couple more hours to go.

Ethan: You’ve got this. Hang in there, and we’ll make it to the weekend..

Maddie felt a warm flutter in her chest. She hadn’t expected anything, but Ethan’s thoughtful gestures always managed to make her day a little brighter. The tension with Mark had been weighing on her lately, and Ethan’s lighthearted messages were a breath of fresh air.

When Maddie returned home that evening, Mark was still on the couch, flipping through channels. The house felt eerily quiet. The hum of the TV did little to fill the space between them.

She tossed her bag onto the counter, then went to the bedroom to unwind. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Mark had been unusually distant since his return. It was subtle—a quiet tension in his body language, a lack of interest in her day-to-day life.

Mark followed her into the room a few minutes later, leaning against the doorway. “How was work today?” he asked, his tone flat.

“It was fine,” Maddie replied, sitting down on the bed. She avoided his gaze, focusing instead on Socks, who had jumped up beside her.

Mark didn’t seem satisfied with her brief answer. He raised an eyebrow, his arms crossing over his chest. “Just ‘fine,’ huh? Seems like you’ve been distracted lately. Anything going on?”

Maddie met his gaze for a moment before looking down at Socks. “Nothing I can’t handle,” she said, keeping her voice steady. She didn’t want to get into it with him. Not yet.

Mark paused, then shrugged. “Alright,” he muttered, turning to leave the room. “Just... don’t get too caught up in your work.”

As the door clicked shut behind him, Maddie let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. She looked at Socks, who curled up beside her with a soft purr. He was her safe space, the small, quiet thing in her life that didn’t ask questions.

She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the quiet settle around her. It wasn’t a perfect life, but it was hers.

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