It was our tenth wedding anniversary, a milestone I had dreamed about for months. I’d saved for weeks to buy my husband the one thing he’d always wanted — a beautiful, classic watch he’d admired for years but never bought for himself. When I handed it to him that night, the joy in his eyes made every sacrifice worth it.
Then he handed me his gift.
I forced a smile, but disappointment burned in my chest. I had imagined something different — not expensive, just thoughtful. Something that said, “I see you.”
Instead, all I saw was a cheap bottle.
I remember setting it down on the dresser with a sigh. “Thanks,” I said softly, already trying to hide my hurt.
He smiled — that easy, gentle smile I’d fallen in love with — and said, “You’ll like it once you wear it.”
But I never did. I tucked it away in a drawer and tried to forget it.
Three Weeks Later
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