When my boyfriend told me, just shy of our one-year anniversary, that he didn’t want a girlfriend anymore, I almost choked on my savory pork belly dish and $12 cocktail. This candlelit dinner had seemed to be to signal that our relationship was on the upswing, and my boyfriend—who had been drifting a bit lately—was back. I couldn’t be more wrong. This wasn’t a let’s-try-again reunion dinner; It was our last supper.

My nervous system began to shut down. I went numb as I nearly tackled the waitress (“We need our check! Now!”). I was out the door in a shot; He was right on my heels. When we got to the subway station, I told him to give me back my keys. He resisted: “Can’t we wait till I come by and get my–”

“No. Now,” I said, fighting back tears (and failing). I stood th