POV: Sloane Harper

The morning light hits my face before the alarm rings. I sit up, staring at the wall, trying to remember what day it is. Then I remember—first day at Evelyn’s firm. My hands tremble for a second, but I tell myself I’m fine. I whisper that everything starts again today. Daisy’s soft breathing from the next room calms me, and I feel a small wave of strength move through me.

Evelyn greets me at the office door with her usual sharp smile. Her voice cuts through the noise of people talking and phones ringing. “You’re early, good,” she says, and I nod, clutching my folder too tight. My mind races with thoughts of proving myself, of not failing again. She walks me through the desks and the glass walls, speaking fast. I listen and tell myself that I belong here.

I sit at a small desk near the window. My computer hums, and papers wait for me to fill them with meaning. I start typing, thinking about how far I’ve come from the empty house I left behind. My fingers move fast, like I’m catching up with the time I lost. For the first time in a long while, I feel awake.

By noon, my head feels heavy, but the energy in the office keeps me going. Evelyn calls me into the conference room. A man sits there already, flipping through a file. His presence fills the space in a quiet way that draws my attention before I can stop it. “Sloane, meet Gabriel Hale,” Evelyn says. I look at him and nod. His eyes meet mine, steady but warm.

He smiles once, small and calm. “I’ve heard good things already,” he says. My mind blanks for a second. No one’s said that to me in years. “Thank you,” I managed to say, trying to sound professional. My heart beats faster than it should. Evelyn starts talking about the new project, but I can feel his gaze every few minutes, patient, curious. I keep my eyes on the notes, pretending not to notice.

After the meeting, I step out and exhale like I’ve been holding my breath too long. I tell myself not to overthink it. He’s just being kind. Investors need people to trust them; it’s part of their job. But his voice stays in my mind, smooth and careful. I shake my head and return to my desk, forcing my focus back to work.

During lunch, I eat at my desk, scrolling through numbers. I hear someone walk up and look up to see Gabriel standing beside me. He leans slightly forward, holding a cup of coffee. “You look like you could use this,” he says. I smile, confused, and take it. “Thank you,” I say again. He nods and walks away. I stare at the cup for a while, then at my screen, trying to read the same sentence over and over.

When I get home that evening, Daisy runs up to me, her small arms wrapping around my legs. “Mom, look!” she says, holding a drawing. I kneel and look at it. She’s drawn a house with two windows and a tree. “That’s our new home,” she says proudly. My chest tightens. “It’s beautiful,” I tell her. I put the drawing on the fridge, and for a moment, it feels like hope lives there.

After dinner, I sit at the kitchen table with my laptop open. The email notifications blink, and one catches my eye. It’s from Adrian’s lawyer. My throat tightens. I click it open and read the words that always find new ways to hurt me. We’re reviewing custody terms. I close the laptop slowly. The air feels heavy.

For a long time, I just stare at the dark window. I think of all the nights I spent in that old house, scared and small. I promised myself I’d never go back there in any way, not even in fear. I whisper, “Not this time.” I pick up my phone and call my own lawyer. My voice shakes at first, but I keep going. I explain everything. She listens and tells me we’ll handle it.

After I hang up, I sit in silence. My mind pulls between two thoughts—fear and faith. I chose the second.

The next day at work, I keep my head down. I finish tasks before the deadline, trying to make Evelyn proud. But every time Gabriel walks by, my focus slips. He doesn’t say much, but when he does, his tone holds attention without asking for it.

That night, lying in bed, I heard his voice again in my mind. The way he said “rare” sits in my chest, not heavy but strange. I tell myself I don’t need distraction, not now. I whisper, “He’s just another man.” Still, I smile before I can stop myself. Then I roll over, close my eyes, and promise to forget it.

Morning comes too fast. I rush Daisy to school, her chatter bright and light. She tells me about her friend Lily and how she wants to bring her home someday. I nod, half-listening, half-thinking about the day ahead. I want to stay focused. I want to build something that no one can take away again.

The week moves fast. My confidence grows with each finished report, each meeting that goes right. Evelyn starts asking for my opinion more often. I keep my answers short but clear. She nods with approval sometimes, and I feel seen.

That night, I stared at the ceiling after putting Daisy to bed. Gabriel's words keep echoing. I know he didn’t mean it in a flirtatious way, but something in his tone had a softness I haven’t heard in years. I turn over and whisper to myself that I’m imagining things. Still, my chest feels warm.

The next morning, I found an envelope under my door. It’s another notice from Adrian’s lawyer. The words are almost the same, only colder. I sit down on the floor and hold the paper tight. For a few minutes, I let the fear in, let it fill the room. Then I stand up and tear the paper into pieces. I whisper, “You don’t get to scare me anymore.” Daisy calls from her room, and I go to her, trying to keep my voice steady.

At work, I pour myself into tasks again. Gabriel passes by and pauses. “Rough day?” he asks quietly. I nod. “Custody issues,” I admit before I can stop myself. He doesn’t ask for details. He just says, “You’ll win.” His certainty surprises me. I want to ask how he knows, but the words stick. He leaves, and I feel lighter.

That night, Daisy draws again. This time, she adds two stick figures beside the house. “That’s you and me,” she says. “We’re happy here.” I hug her tight and tell her I love her. Her small hand rests on my cheek, and she smiles. “You look happy now,” she says. I swallow the lump in my throat and nod.

Later, when she’s asleep, I open my laptop again. I work on a new presentation idea, something that’s been sitting in my mind all week. I sent it to Evelyn before midnight. Minutes later, a message appears. Good work, Sloane. Gabriel liked your proposal. My heart skips. I sit back and whisper, “He read it?” I can’t help the small laugh that escapes me.

One evening, as I pack up to leave the office, Gabriel walks out at the same time. “Heading home?” he asks. “Yes,” I reply, holding my bag close. “You’ve done well here,” he says quietly. I look at him, unsure how to answer. “You’re building something good,” he adds. I nod slowly. “Trying to,” I say.

When I get home, I sit by the window, the night air cool against my face. I think about how life keeps moving even after it breaks.

I think about the first day I walked into Evelyn’s office, afraid and unsure. Now I feel a small spark in me, something that whispers, You’re not done yet.

Gabriel’s gaze stays in my thoughts longer than I want to admit. I tell myself it means nothing. But when I close my eyes, the warmth of his words, his quiet belief, and Daisy’s hope all mix into one thought. For the first time in years, I’m not just surviving. I’m beginning again.

And somewhere deep inside, I can feel it—the first spark.