Broken Mirrors

Sarah Kent had everything under control. Everything except her ketchup addiction, but other than that... everything. She was at the top of her class as a senior and on her way to being the valedictorian for Saranac's Class of 1988, which she clearly won in May of that same year.

Later that autumn, she started classes at Michigan State University and lived at East Akers Hall, a coed dorm. As fate would have it, she met Nelson Larowski, who grew up just down the river from Sarah in Portland. Sarah was from Saranac. They had similar childhoods, similar families, and compatible ambitions. This felt meant to be, and from how their friends saw it, they were incredibly perfect for each other.

Sarah became unavailable during certain holidays because she would go to Portland with Nelson. She was suddenly not often at friends' group events. While she did a great job balancing her relationship with maintaining her older friendships, her pals accepted that this was where she needed to focus: with Nelson.

As their friendship progressed into what eventually became romantic, Sarah realized that this was her guy. He had a promising career ahead of him, and Sarah planned a successful career in biochemistry. Everything looked like it would be an exciting life for the pair.

When Sarah's friend and classmate at MSU and high school, Kevin Woodward, and his boyfriend, Curt Ryan, a basketball legend in central and western Michigan, decided to throw a party at the Residence Inn just off campus during their sophomore year, Sarah and Nelson were there. It was no surprise to anyone that they looked closer than ever.

"I'm going to marry that girl," said Nelson to Kevin and Curt.

"How much have you had to drink, Nel?" Asked Curt.

"Not enough," said Nelson. "Don't tell her I said that."

"Which part? That you want to marry her or that you aren't drunk enough?" Kevin laughed and smiled as Nelson looked unsure of how to respond. "Never mind; you know we won't say anything."

It's important to say that everyone in their friend group loved Nelson and thought he was perfect for Sarah. His charm matched Sarah's, and she needed someone who matched her balance of wit and intelligence. Plus, he came from a big family, and Sarah was a girl who wanted it all: a career and a big house full of kids. Bonus: Nelson wanted the same thing.

On New Year’s Eve, it was tradition for the friends to get together to ring in the new year. It was 1992, and they were about to ring in 1993 for the first time. Kevin and Curt had set the bar for this tradition to be romantic, as they solidified their relationship on New Year’s at midnight, ringing in 1986. Tonight would be the seventh anniversary of their official relationship, and this time they would all be of drinking age since Curt, the youngest, was finally 21.

“Lucky seven,” said Curt to Kevin, acknowledging their anniversary.

“Lucky seven,” said Kevin, who proceeded to kiss Curt.

Nelson wanted Kevin and Curt to take up some oxygen to take the attention off him. So he cheered them on as a distraction. With a charming toast celebrating Kevin and Curt, and to Curt’s newfound legal drinking abilities, Nelson brought a round of shots to the table.

“Sex on the beach, for Kevin and Curt! …that’s the name of the drink, gutterheads!” exclaimed Nelson in an amusing tone.

“SEX ON THE BEACH!!” the group shouted. Everyone around them looked amused and shouted the same thing.

No one knew this would happen, but everyone hoped it would. At midnight, Nelson kissed Sarah, pulled out a ring, and got down on one knee. Kevin looked at Reby and said, “That floor is so gross, though.”

“Good for him,” said Reby.

“Good for him,” said Curt. Kevin still looked slightly disgusted by that one thing, but very happy about Nelson's proposal.

“She said YES!” Exclaimed Nelson. The friends surrounded them both and celebrated the win for the next hour.

After graduation, Sarah and Nelson got married. Everything was right on schedule for the couple. It was the big, beautiful wedding day everyone expected from Sarah. 200 people, dinner with table linens, fine china, and sterling silver, all at the finest hotel in Grand Rapids: the historic AmWay Grand.

Soon after, they had a boy, then another one two years later. After a four-year gap, Sarah became pregnant again, with twins: two little girls. It was what Sarah had planned for herself, right on target. This was her life, well planned.

Nelson's career appeared to stall around their ninth wedding anniversary while Sarah's continued to grow. Soon after, Nelson's father passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack. Depression set in as he began to understand that he had the same genetic cardio-pulmonary marker as his dad. He continued to drink, withdrew from the family, and everything went from being perfect to being a real problem.

Nelson left the house for the benefit of his kids and wife and moved in with his mom under the guise of helping her as she got older and with her home. In reality, his kids just didn't need to see him like this. He continued to drink and saw his kids less and less. He had several affairs, which looked like he was attempting to reclaim his youth, which was weird because he was only 31. By 2002, Sarah had filed for divorce.

Kevin and another of Sarah's oldest friends, Reby, spent the day with her on the Friday when the divorce was final. Reby was making lunch, and Kevin sat on the sofa with her as they drank coffee. He put down his cup, put his arms around her, and offered her humorous advice.

"Our Lady of Gaga once said, 'Trust is like a mirror—you can fix it if it’s broken, but you can still see the crack in that motherfucker’s reflection.'"

"Why would she keep a broken mirror?" Asked Reby.

"I know, right? She will probably never get married," said Kevin.

"Which is what makes her our perpetual Lady of Gaga." Said Sarah. “She's still wiser than we are.”

"Fair point," said Kevin.

Reby nodded.