WHAT IF???

Chapter 50: Moving On

As Mon sat at her desk, her eyes fixed on the photograph of her and Sam smiling together, a heavy weight settled in her chest. She knew she needed to start moving on completely from Sam, even though the thought tore at her heart.

With a trembling hand, Mon picked up the photograph, tracing the outline of Sam's face with her fingertips. Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered to herself, "I need to get used to the idea that we'll never be together again."

Taking a deep breath, Mon made a difficult decision. She turned to her colleague and friend, Yha, who was sitting nearby. "Yha," she began, her voice steady but filled with sadness, "I've decided to resign from my position here. I need to cut all connections with Sam completely."

Yha's eyes widened in surprise and concern. "Are you sure, Mon?" she asked, her voice filled with empathy. "It's a big decision."

Mon nodded, her resolve firm. "I need to do this for myself," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can't keep holding on to something that's no longer there."

With a heavy heart, Mon started her day-to-day moving on process. She removed Sam's photograph from her desk and packed away any reminders of their time together. She focused on her work, throwing herself into projects and tasks to keep her mind occupied.

In the evenings, Mon made an effort to spend time with friends and family, seeking comfort and support in their company. She indulged in hobbies and activities she enjoyed, rediscovering herself outside of her relationship with Sam.

Meanwhile, As Sam sat at the breakfast table, her grandmother's words cut through her like a knife. The weight of her decision to pursue the annulment bore down on her shoulders, crushing her spirit with each passing moment.

Her grandmother's voice was sharp with disapproval as she pointed out the preliminary results of the annulment, her words laced with disdain. "Look at what you've done, Sam," she scolded, her eyes burning with disappointment. "You've ruined your reputation with this annulment."

Her grandmother's eyes narrowed in disapproval as she continued, undeterred by Sam's defiance. "I'll ask Kirk to visit," she announced, her voice tinged with authority. "We need to fix this mess you've made."

Sam's jaw clenched as she fought to maintain her composure, her hands trembling with anger and frustration. "There's nothing to fix, grandmother," she retorted bitterly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "It was already broken to begin with."

With a sudden wave of nausea washing over her, Sam pushed herself away from the table, the room spinning around her. She struggled to steady herself, the weight of her grandmother's judgment bearing down on her like a crushing weight.

Concern etched on her grandmother's face, she reached out a hand towards Sam, her voice filled with genuine worry. "Sam, are you alright?" she asked, her tone softer now, tinged with concern.

But Sam's walls were up, her defenses impenetrable. "Don't worry about me, grandmother," she snapped, her tone sharp and cutting. "It's not like you really care anyway."

With that, Sam stormed out of the room, her heart heavy with the burden of her choices and the weight of her grandmother's disappointment. As she made her way to her room, the world around her seemed to blur, the pain and regret threatening to consume her whole. And in that moment, she felt more alone than ever before, trapped in a web of her own making, with no way out.

Three months had passed since Mon had begun the slow process of moving on from the heartbreak that had shattered her world. As she strolled through the bustling mall, the familiar sights and sounds offered a brief respite from the constant ache in her chest.