Photo by Jonathan Borba
"All these raving about Valentine's Day!" George muttered as he entered the house.
Joyce glanced up from her phone to see the scowl on his face. She chuckled. "Babe, we don't celebrate so why the mood?"
George sighed and dropped down beside his wife on the sofa. "It's just annoying, seeing all the stores decorated with flowers, teddy bears, wrapped gifts and love cards. It's like these shop owners exploit people in the name of love."
"Well, they have to make a living. Remember, every day is a celebration of our love! C'mon. Let's go to bed."
After an hour….
"I can't sleep," said Joyce, tossing and turning in her bed.
"Me neither," replied her husband, George. "I keep thinking about all the things we have to do tomorrow for Valentine's Day."
"I know, right? I want everything to be perfect for us," said Joyce, sitting up in bed.
"I was thinking, why don't we just stay up all night and begin our celebration?" suggested George.
"Really? That's a great idea! We can do something special and make this a night to remember," said Joyce, excitement in her voice.
And so, the couple got dressed and headed out into the city, determined to make the most of their sleepless night. They wandered the streets, taking in the beauty of the city at night, the lights twinkling like stars. They stopped at a small, cosy café and enjoyed a hot cup of cocoa while listening to live music.
As they continued their adventure, they stumbled upon a quaint little bookshop. George and Joyce browsed the shelves, picking out their favourite novels, and ended up staying there for hours, lost in their own world of books and conversation.
As the night grew later, they made their way to a nearby park and spread out a blanket under the stars. They cuddled close, talking about their hopes and dreams for the future, their love for each other growing stronger with each passing moment.
As dawn broke, they made their way back home, both feeling rejuvenated and grateful for the unexpected gift of their sleepless night. They sat on their couch, hand in hand, watching the sunrise and feeling a deep sense of contentment.
"I'll never forget this Valentine's Day," said Joyce, snuggling closer to George. "This was the best gift you could have ever given me."
"No, the best gift was spending the night with you," replied George, kissing her forehead.
And as they drifted off to sleep, surrounded by the warmth of their love, they knew that this sleepless night would forever be a cherished memory.
I hope you enjoyed reading this short piece. This freewrite is inspired by the prompt "sleepless nights". Join the Freewriters community to receive daily prompts, hosted by 