Our Anniversary Ends with an EndChapter 1

I remember that day—the day that marked the sixth year since I had said yes to my boyfriend. I had hoped for something special, something meaningful, a quiet dinner or a thoughtful gift. But I was wrong; it seems my boyfriend had planned something different.

My boyfriend, Yohann, the ever-the thrill-seeker, decided that bungee jumping with his childhood friend was the way to celebrate. It wasn't just any jump, though; it was from a towering cliff. But I have a fear of heights.

While I was thinking and was distracted, he gave me a sudden push. I free-fell, gasping for air. And for a moment, I thought I wouldn't make it.

After being rushed to the hospital, I woke up groggy and disoriented. As I reached for my phone, I accidentally came across my boyfriend's latest social media post. There he was, sitting with his childhood friend at a fancy restaurant, enjoying what looked like a romantic dinner.

The caption read: "I always like brave girls. I hope you ride the waves and bravely move forward for the rest of your life."

In that moment, everything clicked. The timid version of myself, afraid of heights and hesitant to take risks, was no longer enough for him.

So, I decided to leave him. Completely. No explanations, no goodbyes. I knew I deserved more than being someone else's afterthought.

What I didn't expect was what happened next. After I left Yohann, the man who always seemed calm and in control, panicked. He searched for me everywhere, losing his usual composure when he realized I was gone.

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During my two days in the hospital, sleep brought no peace. Every night, I had the same nightmare—falling into an endless abyss, unable to breathe as the panic and suffocation consumed me.

But the worst part wasn't the dream when I opened my eyes. It was the emptiness beside me. I am all alone. No one's with me.

I lay staring at the ceiling. After a long while, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and reached for my phone, trying to shake off anything inside my mind.

The last message between Yohann and me was still from the day we went bungee jumping. I couldn't shake the memory of how easily he had pushed me off that ledge despite my fear. The thought of it felt like needles piercing my chest, making it hard to breathe.