Chapter 3 **** ''Taking the First Step

The morning light filtered through the curtains as I pulled myself out of bed, feeling the weight of the past few days still clinging to my body like a heavy blanket. My mind was still clouded with thoughts of Nathan, the breakup still too fresh, too raw. But today was different. Today, I promised myself, would be the first day of healing.

I made my way to the kitchen, brewing a pot of coffee that smelled comforting, almost soothing. The apartment was quiet-just me and my thoughts. I hadn't even bothered to change the bedsheets yet, as much as I knew I should. But for now, I wanted to let the day unfold without thinking too much about it.

As I sipped my coffee, my phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. It was my mom.

I hesitated for a moment. After everything that had happened with Nathan, hearing their voices would either help or make things worse. But I swiped the screen and pressed the phone to my ear.

"Hey, Mom," I greeted, trying to sound upbeat, though I was anything but.

"Hey, sweetie," my mom's warm voice came through. "How are you feeling today?"

I sighed, leaning against the counter. "I'm okay. It's... it's been hard."

She paused, as if choosing her words carefully. "I know, honey. I know. But I want you to know we're here for you. Your dad's been worried about you too. He says you'll get through this."

I smiled weakly. I could hear my dad's voice in the background, gruff and straightforward as always. "She'll be fine. He wasn't worth it. I never liked him anyway."

A lump formed in my throat. I hadn't expected them to be so blunt, but a part of me needed to hear it.

"I'm fine, Mom," I replied softly, feeling a little lighter. "I'm just trying to move on."

My mom's voice softened. "You're beautiful, Evelyn. You deserve so much better. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise."

Her words wrapped around me like a warm blanket. It was comforting knowing my parents were in my corner, even if I couldn't be there with them.

"I love you, Mom. Thanks for calling."

"I love you too, sweetie. Take care of yourself, okay? We'll talk soon."

I hung up the phone, feeling a little stronger. Their support was just what I needed.

---

The next morning, Monday arrived with the same gray skies as the weekend, but I was determined to make the best of it. I dressed in something that made me feel put together-nothing too flashy, but enough to give me that tiny boost of confidence. A navy blazer, black slacks, and a white blouse. The outfit was simple, yet professional. I needed to be in control of something, and work was the only place where I felt that control right now.

The office was as busy as usual, the hum of conversations and the constant tapping of keyboards filling the air. I sat at my desk, trying to focus on the tasks at hand. It wasn't easy. Every time my phone buzzed with a notification, my heart skipped a beat, only to fall back down when I realized it was just a work email or an advertisement. Nathan hadn't reached out, but that didn't stop the haunting thought that he might.

"Evelyn?"

I looked up from my work, momentarily distracted by the voice of my coworker, Emma. She was standing in the doorway of my cubicle, holding a folder in her hand.

"Yeah?" I replied, trying to sound focused.

"Sorry to interrupt," Emma began, stepping into the cubicle. "We have a new client for the presentation today. His name is Lucas. He's with a high-profile firm, and he wanted to meet with you."

I nodded, straightening in my chair. "Got it. Thanks for letting me know."

Emma paused. "He's waiting in the conference room. I'll walk you over."

I gathered my things, feeling the weight of the meeting ahead. There was nothing unusual about the meeting itself-just another client, just another project. I had dealt with many of them before. But something about the fact that this was a high-profile firm made me focus even more on my professionalism.

---

When we arrived in the conference room, a tall man was standing by the window, looking over some documents. His dark suit was impeccably tailored, and the sharpness of his features matched his professional appearance. His posture was straight, confident, but not too intimidating. He looked like someone who took their work seriously, but without any airs about him. I didn't sense any warmth from him, nor did I expect to. It was all business, just the way I liked it.

"Lucas, this is Evelyn," Emma introduced, giving me a polite smile before stepping back to let us begin.

Lucas turned and offered a brief, polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Evelyn."

"Nice to meet you," I replied, offering my own smile as I took a seat at the table.

We exchanged pleasantries before diving straight into the meeting. The conversation revolved around marketing strategies, timelines, and deliverables-nothing personal. We talked about numbers, projections, and the work we had to do. It was smooth, efficient, and professional.

As the meeting concluded, Lucas gathered his things and gave a nod toward me. "Thank you, Evelyn. I'll email you the details by the end of the day."

I gave him a simple nod. "Looking forward to it."

---

Later that evening, after the office had emptied and I was alone at home, I began to go through some of Nathan's old things-gifts, photographs, mementos of a time I was trying to forget. Each item felt like a weight in my hands, reminding me of the person I once believed I would spend my life with.

I paused in front of the small box where I kept the little trinkets Nathan had given me: a necklace, a few postcards, even a birthday card. My fingers brushed over the necklace, the one he had given me on our first anniversary. It had seemed so meaningful at the time.

But not anymore.

With a sigh, I grabbed the box and dumped its contents into the trash can. Every single thing he had given me, every memory tied to him, was gone. I didn't want to hold onto them anymore. I didn't need to be reminded of a love that had faded away.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the trash can. It felt like a cathartic release, but the emptiness that followed was still there, lingering.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and for the first time in days, I allowed myself to cry. My shoulders shook with sobs as I knelt down beside the trash can, my hands clutching my chest. I missed him. I missed the version of him I thought I had known. But I had to let go. I had to.

Eventually, the tears stopped. The weight on my chest lightened a little, and when I stood up, I felt... better. Not completely healed, not by a long shot, but lighter. Stronger. Maybe this was the first step in moving on.

Maybe, just maybe, I would be okay.

---

The next day, as I got ready for work, I took a deep breath and stared at myself in the mirror. Today would be different. I will keep moving forward. One step at a time.

And as I grabbed my keys and left the house, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were starting to shift.

But I wasn't sure what that shift meant yet.