CHAPTER 1: Getting dumped

Warning: This book doesn't promote body shaming of any kind. It is to show the gullible nature of some humans in placing judgment using physical appearance as a measuring tool for someone's quality. It's okay to have your preference, but enforcing it on others because you're genetically lucky is unfortunate. Not everybody would be a 'ten' as you perceive, but that doesn't make them any less attractive.

And, if you were with someone when they had this beauty and wealth, when things go wrong for them, instead of leaving, support and love them more. Remember, what you reject today will become someone else treasure tomorrow, and by the time you realize that it will be too late for you.

All humans are beautiful. Don't let social media and perception fool you into looking for perfection. Again, it's okay to have a preference.

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This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and

places portrayed in this book are products of the author’s

imagination and are either fictitious or used fictitiously.

Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely

coincidental and not intended by the author.

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The beginning...

MEREDITH:

"Alan, please. Don't do this to us. We've been perfect for each other without any issues. We've gotten through a lot over the past six years. Are you just going to throw everything away – all the promises you made to me, our friendship?" I shamelessly pleaded with my long-time boyfriend. Today wasn't supposed to unfold like this; we were meant to celebrate our seventh anniversary. Or so I thought. However, Alan had other plans.

"Stop this, Meredith. You're embarrassing me," Alan snapped, his beautiful green eyes, for some reason, lacked the usual emotions of love, care, and protection that I was accustomed to. It dawned on me that something had changed.

"Baby, I'm sorry if I'm embarrassing you. Tell me what I did wrong. What went wrong? Let me fix it. I'm not giving up on us. We can work on whatever the problem is," I desperately expressed, not ready to lose the man I loved. I couldn't imagine living without him.

Alan sighed, "I don't want to get angry with you because you're a good person, Meredith. But what you're doing right now is disgusting," he said.

"Disgusting? That I'm trying to get to the root of the problem and possibly save our relationship?" I questioned, confused and hurt.

"You can't save it. Let me be truthful with you. I've lost feelings for you. There's someone else I've been seeing for a while, and I'm in love with her. She's pretty, smart, funny, and has a gym body with a huge ass. One day, you'll understand that what I did was best so that we don't end up wasting each other's time," Alan dropped the bomb, shattering my world.

My entire world shattered into pieces. All I could manage to ask was, "Why, Alan? I've done nothing but love you all these years, and you do this to us? Do I deserve this? I never lied, cheated, or hurt you. You know how this period is with me. It's a time I need you badly. You chose now to hurt me like this. The one time I need you, and you're leaving me?" I asked, feeling the weight of betrayal.

"You'll forgive me one day. You can hate me now, but the feelings will fade. If it helps, I don't want you beating yourself up. This is on me. You never did anything wrong. In fact, until now and forever, no one will be able to replace you in my life. Let's continue being friends. If we are truly meant to be, we'll find a way back to ourselves," he claimed, leaving me in disbelief.

Friends? Was that the level he had reduced us to? A man I planned a life with, who made promises never to leave, hurt, or cheat on me, stood there praising another girl and leaving me behind. Alan and I met when I was sixteen, and he was nineteen. It wasn't love at first sight. Truthfully, I hated his arrogant attitude. But over time, we became friends and got to know each other better, leading to us developing into best friends, and eventually, we started dating.

During the early stage of our relationship, he was poor and lacked direction in life. Yet, he was the most beautiful person in my eyes. I believed he would achieve greatness, driving me to support and stand by him, confident that things would improve. I saw something in him beyond physical looks. He struggled with dressing, charisma, and looks, fighting to surpass puberty and become an adult.

After navigating through years of ups and downs with reassurance and hope, we conquered school, and he ventured into coding. This marked another phase of endless support and healing, absorbing his distress, patiently waiting, and grooming him to become a better version of himself – a true man.

Despite everything, Alan was the sweetest, most considerate, and kind boyfriend, showering me with absolute love. Or so he made me believe. Perhaps, he did all that to keep me, fearing loneliness while discovering himself.

We discussed the future extensively – kids, family, and the entire fairy-tale world. He promised never to let go. Yet, now that it was time for him to keep his end of the bargain, he was bailing on me.

Alan stood in the private café he had rented out, seeking privacy amidst the press frenzy that followed him now that he was a big name. "Meredith, I've got to go. I have things to attend to."

I stared blankly at the breathtaking six-eight-foot boyfriend of mine, now destined to become my ex. I looked at the amazing transformation we achieved together, from a pudgy nerd to a supermodel with ripped abs, achieved through my encouragement for him to start working out and a strict diet. He looked far better than when I met him. Now, he was every woman’s dream, although I doubted any of them would have given him a second glance before.

"Did you ever cheat on me?" I needed to know, the uncertainty gnawing at me despite Alan never giving me a reason to doubt him.

"You don't want to know the truth. Let's leave it," he deflected, pulling out cash to cover our untouched dinner.

"It doesn't change anything. You've already broken up with me," I replied, my appetite gone.

Running his hand through his neatly trimmed brown hair, Alan admitted, "Yes, I cheated on you. That's why I'm ending it. The guilt of pretending everything was fine when my mind and body were elsewhere... I can't keep doing that. I don't want us turning into mortal enemies. I know I'm a bad person for holding onto you while not being fully in this relationship. I kept you from moving on because I was scared of losing someone who loved me uniquely. I'm sorry for wasting your time."

Before I could brace myself, tears streamed down my face. "I can't breathe," I managed through the pain.

"Stop the drama, Meredith. You're not the first to get dumped," he coldly responded. "Be grateful we didn't have a child to constantly remind you of me."

Struggling to focus, I repeated, "I can't breathe."

"F*ck this! I don't have time for this. Have a good life, Meredith," were his parting words before everything went dark, and I passed out.