Chapter 1: The Search for Connection

Hello everyone! I'm excited to share that I've just published my debut novel! I'll be releasing chapters sporadically. If you’d like to support a writer still figuring out marketing, you can buy a copy here!

As I enjoy my usual Sunday ramen with my boyfriend, I ask him, "Do you think we should make some new friends?" This place has become our weekly retreat, where we sit outside and watch the world go by, feeling like a settled couple.

"We have friends, Wally," he replies with a grin. His nickname for me, derived from Molly Ringwald, has grown on me over time, even if I initially despised it.

"Not really. You have your colleagues, and I only know their girlfriends," I counter.

"Exactly. Friends," he smirks.

"I'm talking about friends we connect with over shared interests," I clarify.

"What do we even like?" he questions.

"We have interests!" I retort, defensively.

"Like?"

"TV, movies, music… ramen," I list.

"Those are things we enjoy with our current friends," he points out. I roll my eyes; I often feel like his friends are more prominent in my life than my own. Meeting new friends as an adult can be challenging.

"Forget it."

"What's wrong?" He senses my frustration and drops the playful tone.

"I just wish I had my own friends."

"You do! You have wine nights with the girls," he reminds me.

"Those are only my friends because of our boyfriends. Without that connection, I doubt we'd even speak."

"Then go make new friends."

"Oh, sure," I respond sarcastically. It’s not like I can just post an ad: '34-year-old woman seeks female friends.'

"It's not that complicated. Find an interest, join a club, and voila—friends." He is far more outgoing than I am.

"Other than you, the only thing I do is create jewelry and headbands for my Etsy shop."

"Etsy?" He asks, feigning surprise.

"Yes, my Etsy shop," I tease.

"Are you still into that?"

"What do you mean, 'still'? I'm always working on new pieces."

"Really? When was the last time you made something?"

"I just uploaded a headband recently—the red one with pearls. Remember?"

"That was a month ago," he responds.

"It feels more recent than that!" I protest.

"Have you crafted anything else since?"

"I... it hasn’t been that long."

In reality, I can’t recall the last time I indulged in my creative process—sipping wine while crafting with my hot glue gun and 80s music blaring. Why have I neglected this passion?

Reviving my jewelry-making has put me in a positive mindset. B-52s provide the soundtrack as I carefully string iridescent beads onto wire. I started making accessories because nothing in stores matched my vision, and crafting allowed me to escape my thoughts. Just then, I hear someone enter through the front door.

"Oh great, you're back! How was it?" Annabelle asks, stepping outside.

"That’s beautiful! I haven't seen your pieces before," she continues, admiring my work.

"How mad are you at me on a scale of one to ten?" she asks playfully.

"You set me up, Annabelle," I state bluntly.

"Yes."

"So you admit it?"

"Who else could have done that?"

"Why would you do that to me? It was humiliating."

"Why did no one show up?"

"There were seven of us! Everyone looked at me like I was a loser needing a playdate."

"Oh, come on."

"Why would you do this to me?"

"Because you needed to get out there. You would have never agreed to a group if I suggested it outright."

"You tricked me."

"Yes." I look at her, shaking my head. She's unapologetic.

"I know you want to help, but you can't trick me into moving on from my breakup. It doesn't work that way."

"I just want you to do something. You can't sit at home all day, wallowing in sorrow. Life doesn’t pause for our grief."

"Well, I went."

"I'm dying to hear how it went." I think about sharing my experience, but I decide to keep her in suspense for a bit as I move my work upstairs.

The week passed in a blur, as they often do post-breakup. Surprisingly, I found myself looking forward to the group. Connecting with new people, not just my coworkers or Annabelle, felt refreshing.

As I enter the room, familiar faces greet me—no longer strangers.

"Hi, Molly!" Susie beams, unpacking a spread of baked goods.

"I brought breakfast this time!" Jasmine announces, juggling champagne and orange juice.

We settle in as Denise enters with her own supplies, and the conversation begins.

"How was everyone's week?" Susie asks, radiating positivity despite her own heartache.

"I worked, then went home, then worked some more," Denise offers, and we all laugh at the monotony.

"Okay, let's get started. I brought this homemade jar for our ideas," Susie says proudly, revealing a bedazzled mason jar.

"Wow," Kate exclaims, impressed.

"You made that?" I ask, genuinely surprised.

"Yeah! I picked up a hobby," Susie replies, her enthusiasm infectious.

"That's great, Susie! I didn't know you were into crafts," I compliment her.

"Well, I didn’t either until I found more free time."

As we share our baked treats, we realize that none of us have prepared anything for our discussion.

"Seriously? No one brought anything?" Markus teases.

"I didn't think of anything," I admit, feeling a mix of embarrassment and solidarity with everyone else.

"Okay, everyone, let’s figure out what we all need," Kate suggests, prompting a thoughtful silence.

Suddenly, it becomes apparent that offering advice to others is far easier than introspection.

"Susie, you need to discover your desires in life. Jasmine, you want closure from Tony. Denise, you're looking to regain your independence from Rick. Markus, learn to cope with grief. Carlos, practice self-love and acknowledge your worth. And Kate, you must find yourself again," I summarize, surprising even myself with this clarity.

"What about you?" Markus asks.

"I need to move on as well," I admit.

"You need closure," Kate adds, mirroring my thoughts.

"Alright, let’s exchange numbers and stay connected through a group chat," Susie suggests, and despite my initial reluctance, I find myself eager to engage.

Chapter 2: One Month Later

Stay tuned for weekly updates as I continue to publish new chapters. Click here to purchase the full book.

In this TEDx talk, Tamara D. Afifi discusses the emotional repercussions of divorce on children, shedding light on the often-overlooked impacts of family separation.

In this Sunday Morning Service, the topic of divorce is explored, emphasizing the importance of community support and understanding during challenging times.