Chapter 9: Rising from the Pain and exit
1709 Words
Ann didn’t cry the next morning. Not because it didn’t hurt. It still did. Her heart was heavy. Her chest ached. But she was tired of letting pain control her. She had spent too long waiting. Waiting for a text. Waiting for an apology. Waiting for someone to choose her. Not anymore.
She stood in front of the mirror, brushing her hair with slow, steady hands. Her eyes were puffy, yes. But there was something new in them now.
Determination.
“I won’t let him break me,” she whispered to herself and she meant it.
At the office, Ann walked in with her head high. She didn’t look toward Richard’s office. She didn’t slow her steps. She greeted her coworkers, smiled, and got to work. Her fingers typed fast. Her thoughts were clear. And she wasn’t going to let heartbreak stop her.
By noon, she had finished her entire to-do list. She even offered to help someone from the marketing team, who looked surprised but grateful.
“You’re always so focused,” he said.
Ann smiled politely. “I’ve got goals.”
She didn’t say what those goals were.
But deep down, she knew: it was to rebuild herself.
To grow.
To shine, even when someone tried to dim her light.
Richard noticed the shift. He watched her from his office, quiet and unreadable. She was glowing again but this time, it had nothing to do with him. She was moving on. And it hit him harder than he expected. He told himself it was good. That this was what he wanted. No attachments. No drama. But watching her laugh with others, watching her rise without him felt like a punch to the chest.
Ann no longer waited for him to call her in. She no longer paused when he walked by. And for the first time, she stopped caring whether he looked at her or not. She had better things to do.
Outside of work, Ann made small changes. She signed up for an evening class digital marketing, something she’d always been curious about. She started jogging again, even if it was just a few laps in the park. She helped her mom more at home, cooked dinners, and talked late into the night about silly things that made them laugh. She smiled more. Not fake smiles but real ones. The kind that came from finding strength you didn’t know you had.
One night, she took out her notebook the one where she used to write dreams and plans and flipped to a fresh page.
At the top, she wrote: What I Want.
And under it:
Finish internship strong
Build real skills
Start a savings plan for Mom
Never lose myself again for someone else
Love myself enough to walk away from what hurts
She read the list three times.
And then, she smiled.
Because for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t waiting for someone to save her. She was saving herself.
Back at the office, whispers began. “She’s really impressive.” “Did you see her pitch last week?” “She’s going places.” Ann heard them. And this time, instead of shrinking or brushing it off, she let the words soak in. She had earned this. Every bit of praise. Every nod of respect.
Richard saw it too. The way other departments called on her for help. The way clients asked for her by name. She was becoming something rare bright, capable, confident. And he hated how much he missed her. But he knew she was slipping through his fingers. Because he’d pushed her away. And she wasn’t waiting anymore.
One evening, as Ann packed up her things, she paused by the elevator. Richard stepped out. Their eyes met. For a brief second, the whole world slowed. And then she smiled. Not bitter. Not hurt. Just kind, Calm and Free. “Goodnight, Mr. Knight,” she said. And walked away.
He stood there, heart heavy. She was no longer his intern. No longer his almost-lover. She was something else now. Something stronger. Something he might never deserve again.
The office lights flickered softly, casting long shadows on the marble floor. Ann sat at her desk, staring at her computer screen. But her mind was far away. It had been a month since that night. A month since she gave her heart to Richard Knight and woke up to silence. He hadn’t said a word about what happened. No apology. No explanation. Just cold stares and distant behavior. At first, she tried to stay strong, to focus on her work, to prove she could survive. And she did. She got praise and Recognition. Even a few people hinting she had a future at the company. But inside, she knew the truth. She couldn’t stay here forever. Not like this. Not where every hallway reminded her of him. Not where she had to pretend she didn’t care.
She had thought she was over it. She thought she had healed. But every time Richard walked past her desk without looking her way, a small part of her broke all over again. And she was tired of breaking.
That morning, Ann looked at herself in the mirror and asked a question that changed everything: What would life look like if I let go? Not just of Richard but of this whole chapter. What if she started fresh? Somewhere new. Somewhere where she wasn’t “the intern who slept with the boss.” Somewhere she could breathe.
By lunch, she had her answer. She opened a blank Word document and began typing.
Subject: Resignation Letter
Dear Mr. Knight,
I want to thank you for the opportunity to work at Knight Holdings. This internship has taught me more than I imagined about business, people, and myself.
However, I believe it is time for me to move forward and explore new opportunities. My last working day will be two weeks from today.
Thank you again for the experience.
Sincerely,
Ann Smith
She stared at it for a long time. Her hands shook as she moved the mouse to the “Send” button.
One click.
One second.
And it would all be real.
Was she ready?
No.
But she was brave.
She clicked Send.
And just like that her exit plan began.
The first person to notice was Ethan, her friend from marketing.
“You’re what?” Ethan gasped after hearing the news.
Ann smiled softly. “I’m resigning.”
“Why? You’re doing amazing!”
“I need a clean start.”
Ethan hugged her. “You’re stronger than anyone I know.”
Ann didn’t feel strong yet. But hearing those words helped.
The email reached Richard at 2:03 p.m. He opened it without much thought.
Then froze.
His eyes scanned the words once… twice.
Resigning?
He leaned back in his chair, lips pressed tight. Why now? Why leave when she was finally rising?
She was the best intern the company had seen in years. She was focused, smart, respected. And now… she was leaving? Because of him? His chest ached. And suddenly, it wasn’t just about work. It was personal. He had pushed her away. And now she was walking for real.
At 4:30 p.m., Ann was preparing some final reports when her phone buzzed.
From: Richard Knight
Subject: Office – Now.
She sighed.
She knew this moment would come. She stood, smoothed her blouse, and walked to his office one last time.
The door closed behind her with a soft click. Richard looked up from his desk. For the first time in weeks, their eyes locked and didn’t let go.
“You’re resigning,” he said, voice low.
“Yes,” she replied.
His jaw clenched. “Why?”
“You know why.”
He stood slowly. “You’re doing well here.”
“That’s not enough anymore.”
“You’re running away.”
“No,” she said, her voice calm. “I’m setting myself free.”
Silence stretched between them like a rubber band, ready to snap. He walked around his desk, now standing just inches away.
“You don’t have to leave.”
Ann looked at him. Really looked at him.
He looked tired. Maybe even a little sad. But it didn’t change anything.
“Richard, I can’t stay in a place where I feel invisible.”
“You were never invisible to me.”
“You made me feel like I was.”
He closed his eyes for a second.
“I made a mistake.”
“You made a choice,” she said. “And I’m making mine now.”
She turned to go, but he stopped her with a quiet voice.
“Ann.”
She looked back.
“I wish I could be the man you deserve.”
Her throat tightened. “I wish you had tried.”
Outside his office, the air felt lighter. The pain was still there. But so was peace. Because she finally chose herself.
That night, she told her mom everything. The job. The heartbreak. The decision to walk away. Her mom didn’t judge. She just held Ann close and whispered, “I’m proud of you.” Ann cried. Not because she was sad. But because for once she felt free.
In the days that followed, she worked hard to wrap up her tasks. People kept asking why she was leaving. She smiled and said, “It’s just time.” Some understood. Some didn’t. But it didn’t matter. She was walking out with her head high.
On her last day, she brought cupcakes for the team. Everyone clapped and thanked her for her work. Even the senior managers. No one said a bad word. She was leaving as a star not a scandal. And that mattered more than she thought it would.
As she packed up her things, she looked around one last time. So many memories. Some painful. Some beautiful. But all part of her story. She whispered goodbye to her desk and laptop. To the quiet moments she had cried alone. And then she walked out. No looking back.
As the elevator doors closed, she exhaled deeply and smiled.Because this wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning of something new.
- Writer
