I Can't Breathe Without You

Chapter 3

The waitress was too busy serving other patrons when I flagged her down.

I sighed, glancing around the restaurant, my stomach twisting with hunger and the weight of my thoughts. Just as I was about to summon another server, one appeared in front of me, offering a polite smile as she handed me a menu.

“Would you like a few minutes to decide?” she asked.

I nodded absently, though I barely looked at the options. Food was the last thing on my mind. My thoughts were still tangled in the conversation with my friends, the ache of uncertainty pressing down on me like a stone.

I scanned the restaurant, observing the happy chatter of strangers, the clinking of glasses, and the soft hum of music in the background. It was just another ordinary day for them. For me, it felt like I was at the edge of something unknown, something dangerous.

Then, my gaze landed on a familiar figure across the room.

John.

My breath caught in my throat.

There he was, seated at a dimly lit corner table, his arm draped over the back of a chair. But he wasn’t alone.

A woman sat with him, laughing softly, her eyes locked onto his in a way that made my stomach churn. They were too close, their body language telling a story I wasn’t ready to hear.

I blinked rapidly, my mind racing. Maybe it was a coincidence. Maybe she was a coworker, a friend. But deep down, I knew better.

Then, as if he felt my stare, John lifted his head.

Our eyes met.

And he looked right through me.

Like I was a stranger.

My heartbeat thundered in my ears. I gasped, my breath shaky as I stood abruptly. My chair scraped loudly against the floor, drawing the attention of a few nearby diners. I didn’t care.

Before I knew it, my legs were moving, carrying me toward him.

“John,” I said, my voice tight with disbelief.

He barely reacted. Instead, he turned to the woman beside him, offering her a small, reassuring smile—like I was an inconvenience, a disruption to his evening.

The woman frowned, shifting in her seat. “Who is she?” she asked, her voice hesitant.

John exhaled sharply and shrugged. “Babe, I don’t know who this is.”

My stomach dropped.

I stared at him, unable to comprehend the words that had just left his mouth.

He didn’t know me?

How could he say that?

I felt like the air had been knocked out of my lungs. The man I had spent years with, the man I had dreamed of a future with—was pretending I didn’t exist.

I clenched my fists. “John,” I said, my voice breaking, “don’t do this.”

The woman beside him shifted, looking at me with uncertainty. “She clearly knows you,” she pointed out. “Why are you lying?”

I turned to her, my voice trembling but firm. “That’s my fiancé,” I said. “We were engaged. We were supposed to be married.”

The words felt foreign on my tongue, like they belonged to another life—one that no longer existed.

John exhaled, annoyance flickering across his face. “Mary, stop,” he said sharply. “Why are you making a scene? Can’t you take a hint?”

His words sliced through me like a blade.

“A hint?” I repeated, my voice hollow. “You disappeared without a word. Ignored my calls, my messages. And now you’re acting like I’m crazy?”

I shook my head, willing myself not to cry. “We didn’t even fight, John. We had plans. We had—”

He stood abruptly, cutting me off. “Mary, let it go,” he said coldly. “It’s over. I moved on. You should, too.”

His words echoed in my ears, suffocating me.

Then, without another glance in my direction, he took the woman’s hand and led her away.

Leaving me standing there.

Alone.

The restaurant was silent. I could feel the weight of every stare, every whispered judgment. I felt exposed, like a fool who had been living in a dream while everyone else saw the truth.

The room spun. My breath came in shallow gasps. My vision blurred.

Then—someone caught me.

A firm, familiar grip steadied me. I blinked through my haze and saw Juliet’s concerned face, her arms wrapped around me to keep me from collapsing.

Sandra stood beside her, her eyes blazing with anger. “We should’ve come with you,” she muttered.

They didn’t say ‘I told you so.’ They didn’t lecture me. They just held me, their presence a quiet reassurance in the midst of my unraveling world.

The rest of the night passed in a blur. I barely remembered getting home, barely remembered sinking into my bed.

But I remembered the ache. The emptiness. The realization that the life I had built with John was nothing more than an illusion.

And now, I had to start over.

One Month Later

It wasn’t easy. The pain didn’t just disappear overnight. But I forced myself to move forward.

I threw myself into job hunting, attending interview after interview, determined to build something new for myself.

Then, one morning, an email changed everything.

Congratulations! We are pleased to offer you the position of Department Head at Plexus Global.

I read the words over and over, hardly daring to believe it. My hands trembled as I grabbed my phone and dialed Juliet.

“You got the job?” she squealed as soon as she picked up.

“I got the job!” I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in weeks.

Sandra’s voice came through the phone next. “Girl, we are celebrating. Dinner. Drinks. Whatever you want!”

I grinned, warmth filling my chest. “You guys are the best.”

The very next day, we went shopping, picking out new outfits for my first day. It felt good to focus on something positive—to remember that life wasn’t over just because John had walked away.

Monday Morning

I stood in front of the towering glass building of Plexus Global, taking a deep breath.

This was my fresh start.

The security guard greeted me with a polite nod. “Good morning, ma’am. Do you have an appointment?”

I smiled, holding up my letter. “I’m actually the new department head. Today’s my first day.”

His eyebrows raised slightly, impressed. “Welcome aboard, ma’am. Take the first elevator on the left.”

As I walked through the sleek, modern halls, I felt something shift inside me.

This was my chance to redefine myself. To build something for myself.

And for the first time in a long time—I felt ready.