Valentine’s day has just never really been valentine’s Day for me, for a long time, it was also her birthday too, so while the rest of the world wwere busy celebrating love in general, I was celebrating one special person in my life then, february 14th always felt bigger, loud, and also more personal,it was not just about red roses and random come and be mine messages on my end at least, It was her day.
One particular February 14th still lives rent free in my head , it plays like a scene from a movie...
So it was a bright, sunny morning, the kind where the light feels really intentional, she had gone to work as usual that morning, and before leaving her house , she had casually reminded me that she would come over later to spend the day with me, the way she said it was somewhat calm and normal, almost made it feel like any other day.
But in truth, it was not just any other day.
And she thought that I might have forgotten.
And that was the funny part, she had been dropping alot of hints through out the week, making jokes about how some bf forget their gf birthdays when they both fall on valentine’s day because “there is too much going on," I just laughed and acted like I was clueless.
Meanwhile, I had a plan in my mind.
The moment she told me she had left for work, I got dressed and rushed out of my house, immediately, I went straight to the supermarket, moving faster than I would have on a normal day, on getting to the supermarket, I was scanning shelves like a man on a mission, i picked out a really nice birthday card, one of those that actually says something meaningful instead of just Happy Birthday... then I added valentine’s cards too, because why not? It was both.
I grabbed different brands of chocolates ,it was not just one type, I wanted options for her, the fancy kind, the playful kind, the let me taste one before she comes kind, i even stopped by the skincare section and picked out something i knew she would love because she was big on taking care of her skin.
After that, I went to the ATM and withdrew fresh mint notes, not crumpled, not folded, clean notes, there is something about fresh cash that just looks intentional.
By the time I got home, I felt like a professional romantic.hehe....
Then I poured out everything out on my bed and I began to carefully packed it into a beautiful gift bag I had also gotten at the mall, I adjusted the things more than once, took a step back to see how it was in the pack then I repositioned the chocolates, I smoothed out the card, it had to look good for her.
When she finally arrived, she walked in, but I could see it in her face, she was watching me closely, waiting to see if I would say something.
I didn’t, not immediately,
We talked, we laughed, i let a few minutes pass...
Then I disappeared into the room and came back holding the gift bag.
The look on her face changed instantly
Surprise first.
Then realization.
Then joy.
“You remembered really,” she said, almost like she was accusing me of something.
I just smiled and handed it to her.
And just wattching her open the gifts was even the best part, she did not rush to open them, she reacted to every single item, the card really made her emotional, the e chocolates made her laugh at how plenty they were , the skincare made her say, " so you actually listen to me” and truly, that was really enough for me.
Later that same day, she came to my workspace, I was busy on my pc, I wasn’t really expecting anything from her, In my mind, the day was all about her.
But she walked in with this calm confidence and handed me a small box.
Inside was a really nice wallet, it was simple, clean, classy, exactly like my style.
“I know you have been needing a new one,” she said.
She was right, i had mentioned it casually weeks before.
I still use the wallet till today.
Every time I take it out, I remember that day, the sunlight, the supermarket rush the e way her eyes lit up when she realized I didn’t forget, the way she hugged me like I had just done something extraordinary, when really, I was just loving her the best way I knew how.
We are not together anymore, hmmm, yes , life happened and truly people change paths can separate.
But when I think about that February 14th, there’s no bitterness, J
justwarmth, I am still happy we met.
Some relationships don’t last forever, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t real, that day was real, the effort was real, the joy was real.
And every Valentine’s day, when the world turns red again, I don’t just think about love in general.
I think about her birthday.
And that sunny afternoon when I got to make someone I cared about feel truly special.
Thanks For Reading