I told the family chat first
Around quitting time on Friday, news of the breakup appeared in the family chat first.
Jihyun was about to tell her family about the breakup. When her older sister posted the news in the family chat first, Jihyun lost her words in front of the counselor.
Around quitting time on Friday, Jihyun’s older sister posted news of Jihyun’s breakup in the family chat without asking her. Jihyun called to ask why she’d told everyone first, but then struggled to find the words when it felt as if her sister had decided what she should explain to the family, too. Yeonhwa listened as Jihyun returned again and again to “I was going to tell them,” and stayed with that moment, without deciding yet who she wanted to tell or what to say.
Telling your family about a breakup
The breakup itself and who tells the family first can be looked at as two separate things.
When you told your family about the breakup, what moment comes to mind first?
The moment Jihyun saw the breakup news in the family chat and started to confront her older sister, then searched for words, stays with me. It seemed her sister had decided not only how to share the news, but who would speak first. If you’re carrying a similar moment, tell me what you couldn’t say then, too.
Scenes
- 01 · The news that came first The news that came first — Around quitting time on Friday, without asking Jihyun, her older sister posted “Jihyun’s broken up” in the family chat. Jihyun: Why did you tell them first? Older sister: Everyone kept asking, so I told them.
- 02 · The one who has to explain Among the replies — After her older sister shared the news first, the family asked Jihyun what had happened. She started typing a reply, then deleted it. Jihyun: What should I say?
- 03 · The first words on the call A protest cut short — Jihyun called to confront her older sister for sharing the news in the family chat first. But when her sister said everyone kept asking, Jihyun fell silent for a moment. Jihyun: I was going to tell them. Older sister: You seemed like you were having a hard time telling them.
- 04 · The words still left unsaid I was going to tell them — Even in the counseling room, Jihyun spoke first of “I was going to tell them,” before mentioning her older sister’s words. Yeonhwa stayed with that for a moment. Yeonhwa: Jihyun, the moment when you were about to say those words is still here with us. When did you want to tell your family first? Jihyun: I was just about to tell my older sister. I wanted to be the one to say it first.
Stories by Yeonhwa
- Yeonhwa
- Every lunch break, I’m left alone, wondering where my part ends.
- On my birthday morning, I’m ready, but they aren’t yet.
- My heart starts racing in the car.
- Whenever their family comes up, I reread the compatibility reading.
- Every lunch, I think about what would need to change before we try again.
- When I hear a compliment, I turn the calendar first
- Rereading his text in the elevator
- On my first day at work, I ask the cards whether to finally make a decision I’ve been putting off.