Haley was made of glass and the words were cracking, fracturing her. If she stayed there a second longer she would shatter, all that would be left would be jagged shards that would cut others and make them bleed. Breath coming in shallow bursts, she spun away.

"We can work this out," her mother said.

The tired note sliced through Haley's chest, but it was her father's reply that was the pickaxe to her failing control.

"That's what we've been trying to do for the last six months."

Barely aware of what she was doing, Haley ran back to the car and jumped in. The engine came alive and with it the music that had been blaring moments before. Shaking, she pulled away from the house and drove off.

She was blind to where she was headed, blind to most things around her. Her heart was slamming against her chest, urging her to run faster, further away.

She gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white with the effort. Her mind was a storm she couldn't escape. Neighborhoods blurred and faded until she was just one car among others, racing to...she didn't know where.

Every inch of her was screaming like she was being stretched to the point where she could simply snap. Six months of watching the family around her splinter were compounded into this moment. Music continued to rage around her, the lead singer baring his heart and very soul.

When he began to scream, it struck a chord in Haley and everything inside she exploded. She screamed.

She screamed like it had been caged inside her forever and if she didn't let it go then it would rip her open from the inside. She screamed, wanting it to make her throat raw, give her something more than the cutting pain in her chest. She screamed because her world was shattering and she was helpless.

She released everything she had been holding onto. Hours, days, weeks, months of wanting to burst were torn out of her through her throat. Emotions she had stuffed were wrenched out of the hole they had been buried in. Memories of being so alone were yanked free and flung into the night.

When her throat would no longer work and her lungs were begging for a rest, she became aware of the world around her. In the darkness, vague familiarity returned to her. Dazed by the distance she had traveled, she took an exit and navigated her way through neighborhoods with whitewashed houses and palm trees. The street spit her out before an expanse of ocean. The sight of the endless water, undulating and mirroring the sky drew her forward.

As she climbed out of the car, she was bone-weary. All that she had was spent or left behind on some stretch of highway. She climbed over the dividing wall and dropped to the sand. It instantly found gaps in her shoes and wormed its way inside. Haley didn't care.

She stopped at the water's edge, letting the plain of midnight blue gather up all her strangling thoughts and shredded emotions and carry it off. She sank to the ground, kicking off her shoes and wrapping her arms around her knees. The hush of the waves acted as a balm.

When she heard the patter of footsteps approaching, she didn't look back. She couldn't find it in herself to be afraid or cautious, she was hallowed out. A shadow reached her before someone settled down next to her. She didn't look over, knowing from just the corner of her eye who it was.

"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice a harsh rasp.

For a long moment, there was nothing but silence and the endless sea.

"I was coming home when I saw you run a stop sign," Jace said. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

Haley rested her chin on her knees. "Why do you care?"

"You're my friend."

The word brought a pang of hurt.

"No, I'm just some girl who lives across from you that you took pity on."

Haley sensed Jace shifting towards her, but she held her gaze locked with the crashing water.

"It might have started that way, but that doesn't change the fact that you are my friend. No matter how a friendship starts doesn't change what's true."

Haley had no answer to that.

"Want to tell me what's going on?" he asked.

The question stirred up the images Haley had thought she had outrun. One hand dropped to the sand. She rung her fingers into the rough grains, clenching it. But no matter how hard she held onto it silvers of it escaped her grasp until there was nothing left to hold.

"I'm sorry," Jace said. "I know you don't want and never wanted my pity, but it was more than that...I saw you and...I didn't want to see you have to be so alone."

It was the sincerity and concern in his voice more than the words that crushed the barrier Haley had put up against him. She buried her face in her arms, her heart bleeding, tears spilling over.

"I tried not to care," she whispered. "I tried not to let it get to me, but it didn't work. It hurts so much that every day I've felt like I was going to break into a million pieces and no one would see. No one would care." 

Jace's arm came around her shoulders and Haley fell into him, crying on his shoulder. He held her, his strength and warmth a silent promise that she wasn't alone. Minutes stretched on as Haley cried, one hand clinging to his shirt like she was afraid he would disappear too. Jace said nothing, letting his grip on her say it all.

Even when the tears eventually dried up, she didn't pull away. There was comfort in his arms and he gave no indication of letting go.

"I know it shouldn't bother me," she said. "It's what everyone else faces, but...I wanted us to be the exception. I wanted to have a complete family."

Jace looked down at her, understanding brightening his eyes. It was only then that Haley realized he hadn't known what she was talking about, but he hadn't pressed for answers and he had comforted her even still.

"When did you find out?" he asked.

Past the point in caring what she looked like, Haley wiped her nose. "I don't know, an hour ago."

Pushing herself up, she rubbed at her eyes, brushing away the last of the dampness. Jace draped his arms over his bent legs, lips twisted in sympathy.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Haley nodded and stared out on the ocean. The sea was a quilt of black, silver, and indigo. The rise and fall of its motion calmed her, letting her think of nothing for a long while.

"Did they give any reason?" Jace asked, breaking the silence.

She shook her head, watching her toes dig into the soft ground. A breath of quiet swirled around them, enfolding them in the comfort of the ocean's murmur.

"I only overheard them talking," Haley said. 

Gaze still pinned on the bubbling waves, Jace gave a slow nod.

"What did they say?" he asked. He looked at her, concern marring his face. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Haley shrugged as if at this point it didn't matter, she couldn't hurt more than she was.

"My dad said something about not being able to do this anymore." She swallowed, remembering his hunched form and resigned tone. "My mom said they could figure it out and...my dad said that's what they had been trying to do...for the last six months."

Haley felt her throat tightening, seeing too clearly the pair, side by side, exhaustion radiating off of them, their faces crumpled in admitted defeat. One betraying tear slid down her cheek. Jace reached out and wiped it away.

"I'm sorry."

The sentiment seemed to wrap around Haley, soothing her aching heart. The pair sat soaking in the ocean's never-ending life. A seagull swopped over the wave tops, a black cut out against the moon.

"Haley..." She met Jace's eyes, seeing a hint of caution there. "Have you heard them mention divorce before?"

"No," she said, with a shake of her head. "But after hearing arguments for six months and then what my dad said there's nothing else to think."

Jace nodded in agreement.

"Do you think you'll talk to them when you get home?"

Haley's shoulders sagged. "I don't see the point, it's the same one way or another."

"True, but at least you'll know the reason."

At that, Haley didn't respond. She didn't know if she wanted to know, the result was the same. Still...

Taking in a breath, she let it out slowly.

"Want me to drive you back?" Jace asked.

"It's my mom's car."

"Then I'll follow you and make sure you're okay."

Haley dropped her head onto Jace's shoulder, comforted by the certainty of his presence.

"Thanks for caring."

"Of course, Haley Day."

*********

Most of the houses were dark as Haley pulled into her driveway. Though she figured the same would hold true for her own house, she was wrong. Lights burned in the windows as if waiting. When she climbed out, she looked across to Jace. He was standing there, a quiet reassuring smile on his lips.

"Talk to them," he said. "At least you'll know."

Sucking in a shaky breath, she nodded.

"Thanks again."

He dipped his head and entered his own dark house. Steeling herself, Haley opened her front door and walked inside. In the living room, her parents both shot to their feet. Lines of worry were etched deep into their faces.

"Haley, where have you been?" her mother asked, rushing towards her. "We kept calling but you didn't answer. We were about to go looking for you."

Her father hugged her, brushing down her hair.

"You scared us, kiddo," he said.

When he stepped back, he studied her face.

"Where did you go?"

The wave of concern that swept over Haley was too much for her battered heart. Tears sprung to her eyes.

"I heard you talking," she said, wiping furiously at her face. "And I couldn't stay." She clenched her fists, needing to be strong. "But I need to know now. I need you to tell me why you're getting a divorce."

Shock and pain registered on her parent's faces as they looked at each other. Her mother's face broke down, sadness seeping into her eyes.

"Oh Haley," she said, regret lacing her words.

The truth hit Haley again like a blow to the chest. She swallowed, waiting to fight the pain of it. Her mother tucked back a strand of Haley's hair.

"Sweetheart, we're not getting divorced," her mother said, voice heavy with guilt. "We're so sorry, we should have seen it from your point of view."

Haley blinked, tears trailing down her cheeks. "Wait...what?"

The statement seemed to be jumbled in her ears.

"We're not getting divorced, kiddo," her father echoed.

Haley had a feeling of whiplash, two contradictory thoughts colliding in her mind.

"But, the arguments. No," she said, her mind in chaos. "You've been fighting for six months. Distant. You're never home. Dad slept on the couch. I never see you. There was a suitcase. I heard you talking. This doesn't make sense!"

Tears pooled in her mother's eyes at her daughter's confusion. Her gaze turned to her husband, who's tired face was clouded with grief. He rubbed his forehead.

"We should have known," he said. "Haley, this is all our fault. The last six months have been hell at work. That's what everything has been about, not your mother and I divorcing." He laid on his wife's shoulder, giving it an affectionate squeeze. "We've been struggling through this together."

Haley stared at them, shaking her head. The world felt like it was two different puzzles trying to be put together but none of the pieces were fitting. She buried her face in her hands.

"I don't understand," she said.

"Come on here," her mother said, tugging on her arm and leading her to the couch.

Too lost to even think straight, Haley let herself be guided. As she sat nestled between her parents, she stared back and forth between them. For the first time, she saw how old they looked. Though only in their late forties, they had lines of age that hadn't been there before.

"You're not getting a divorce," she said, the reality of that still hard to wrap her mind around. "It's all been about work?"

Her father nodded, leaning over his knees. There was a curve to his shoulders that spoke of too many burdens.

"Six months ago," he said, "my firm was audited. Because of that one-third, the staff was laid off due to under-the-table deals." He let out a heavy sigh. "Since then I've been trying, with the rest of the remaining lawyers, to keep the place from going under. For the past six months, it's been a close call as to whether we would be able to make it."

Haley couldn't respond, her brain spinning with the information.

"As for me," her mother said, drawing her attention. "The head realtor of our division, as well as one of our top agents, got pregnant, though the agent was still able to work some of the time, our boss hit problems that made it impossible. Trying to find a new manager and deal with a heavier workload has been a hard adjustment on the whole staff."

Haley palmed her eyes, struggling to replace the truth with her perceptions. She felt like she was caught in the ocean's undercurrent and couldn't find solid ground. Her mother stroked her hair, giving her someplace to hold onto.

"We're so sorry, sweetheart," she said. "We never wanted to burden you. We know how hard it's been with Lettie moving away, we wanted to keep life easy so you could have a normal high school experience without worrying."

"We failed and we're so sorry," her father said. "We should have seen how this would look to you."

All Haley could manage to do in that moment was nod, letting them know she heard. It felt like a tornado was wreaking havoc with her thoughts. Among the storm, she found one point and clung to it.

"So that's what the arguments...were about?" she asked.

"Yes," her mother said. "Your father and I have been trying to find the best possible solutions, though we will admit stress has been high and we haven't handled that well."

Haley nodded slowly, pulling herself along the train of thought.

"And the long hours, those weren't cause...you were trying to avoid each other?"

"No, kiddo. We're simply trying to keep our heads above water."

Lowering her hands, she looked at them. "What about the mornings, you were either distant or arguing."

A weary breath escaped her mother's lips. "We're so sorry for those. They are never our best times. We've been waking up to lists of problems that seem to grow overnight."

The pounding winds in Haley's head eased back.

"And the night you slept on the couch?" Haley asked her father.

"I did fall asleep doing work, your mother gathered up all the papers so nothing would be lost."

Haley gripped her legs, the truth feeling too fantastical.

"But what about the suitcase and what you said about not being able to do it anymore?"

Her parents exchanged a look so full of heartache that Haley's worry that it could still mean the end of her family seized her once again.

"Before we realized you weren't home yet, I was going to take a redeye to New York," her father said. "I was going to meet with a lawyer that we think hiring could help reestablish the firm's image. What you overheard was me struggling once again with whether it was worth staying with the firm I helped build up or calling it quits."

"That's what it was?"

He nodded. Memories of the past six months exploded and reformed with different meanings. The force of it weakened Haley and she felt the build-up of fear break all at once.

"So I'm not losing you?" she choked out.

Her mother wrapped her into her arms, holding her tight.

"No, you're not losing us."

Cocooned in her parent's embrace, Haley cried again. This time it was with relief and from the exhaustion of having thought she was alone for so long and finally knowing that she wasn't.

**********************************************************************

*Breaths a sigh of relief*

Well, that was something. Anyone else feel like falling over from emotional exhaustion?

Before you do make sure to drop off your thoughts or they will fall out of your head when you crash into the floor. That includes thoughts on Jace as well as the parents. 👉🕳👈

I got to say at least that issue it finally resolved. And hey! Haley isn't going to lose her family! Phew! I was worried there...for like the entire story.

Funny how it's the same thing it was with her parents as it was with everyone else, she only saw a piece of it and thought she knew everything. Well, this one you really can't blame her for cause the signs all seemed pretty clear. I mean even we thought we knew what was going on. Oh how wrong we were.

Did you see that coming?

Bravo if you did, you have a mind like no others my friend.

Now, I have one quick thing to say before our customary question of the chapter. Please don't ever drive while you're angry or distressed or overly emotional or drunk. I'm disappointed that Haley did it cause it's really dangerous. I lost a friend to a car accident so please promise me you will always be wise when driving. Your life is too important and so are the lives of the drivers around you. So please please be wise.

Okay, now answer me this oh wise one: what came first the chicken or the egg?

Since I've returned part of your heart to you then share some love by voting, commenting, or following.

What a hipster!