I never believed in the idea of a relationship “pause.” To me, it’s either on or it’s off. But when my boyfriend Jack said he needed space to “work on himself,” I didn’t argue. We had been together for two years, sharing routines of coffee runs, movie nights, and spontaneous trips. Then, out of nowhere, he grew distant. One evening, he asked for a break — not a breakup, just “pressing pause.” He left for Washington, ignored my texts and calls, and within weeks, I accepted he had ghosted me.

Heartbroken, I distracted myself by volunteering at an animal shelter. That’s where I met a senior dog with the saddest eyes. I hadn’t planned on adopting, but three days later, he was home with me. Since Jack was terribly allergic, owning a dog had never been an option. But in my mind, we weren’t a couple anymore, so I let myself move forward. Life settled into a new rhythm with my dog by my side.

Six weeks later, Jack texted out of the blue: “I’m ready to unpause our relationship.” The next day, he arrived at my door with flowers and plans for our future. But when my dog wandered in, he exploded. He accused me of betraying him, claiming the “break” had been a test to see if I’d wait. I was stunned.

Jack admitted he staged the whole thing as a loyalty experiment. He even said he had planned to propose. That was the final straw. I told him to leave.

He later ranted on social media, but even his mom called to apologize for his behavior, admitting he wasn’t ready for marriage.

Now, I have peace, a loyal dog, supportive friends, and a renewed belief that love should never feel like a test.