It was supposed to be the perfect anniversary trip, just me and my husband John celebrating ten years of marriage in a tropical paradise. The morning started with a nightmare that left me breathless—John abandoning me on a beach surrounded by turquoise waters and palm trees. I jolted awake, heart pounding, only to find myself alone in bed until John appeared in the doorway, coffee in hand and concern on his face.
When I realized it was our anniversary, I was overcome with joy. John had planned a surprise getaway to the Dominican Republic, and just a few hours later, we were on a plane, leaving behind the stress of daily life. When we landed, the warm breeze and vibrant colors embraced us like a dream. Everything felt magical. Our resort was breathtaking, with palm trees swaying in the wind and waves gently crashing nearby. John had booked a suite with a private ocean-view balcony, and as he held me in his arms, I felt like we’d finally hit pause on the world and found our way back to each other. For days, we lounged on the sand, danced under the stars, and indulged in fresh seafood and tropical drinks. I kept touching my belly, where a new life was growing. I hadn’t told John yet—I wanted the moment to be just right.
On our third night, while we watched the sunset, I reached for the small gift box I’d brought from home. Just as I was about to speak, a woman in a white swimsuit appeared from nowhere, running toward us. She dropped to her knees in front of John and cried, “John! Stop pretending! Tell her the truth. I love you. Will you marry me?” I froze. My mind spiraled. Was this real? Was my nightmare becoming reality? My heart pounded as I waited for John to say something, anything. He looked stunned, then suddenly burst out laughing. Still confused and panicked, I watched as he helped the woman to her feet and hugged her. My stomach dropped. I finally found my voice. “Who is she, John?” The woman smiled, and John quickly explained. “Rosa, this is Julia—we were in college together. It’s a prank.” Julia extended her hand with a mischievous grin.
“I’m sorry! He once embarrassed me during a theater class performance, and I swore I’d get him back. When I saw him here, I couldn’t resist.” As I processed their explanation, the tension began to melt from my shoulders. I let out a shaky laugh and playfully smacked John’s chest. “You scared the life out of me, you jerk.” John pulled me close. “I had no idea she was here, I promise.” With my heart rate finally returning to normal, I remembered the gift I’d been about to give. “Well,” I said, pulling the box from my pocket, “it was almost the perfect moment, so let me try again.” I handed him the box. He opened it and pulled out a delicate silver necklace with a tiny baby feet charm.
@life_of_zaire The food was nasty #fyp ♬ By mcks – Lina🌸
His eyes widened. “We’re… you’re… Rosa, are you serious?” I nodded, smiling through happy tears. “We’re going to be parents.” He swept me into his arms and spun me around in the sand, both of us laughing. Julia clapped and offered to take our picture against the glowing sunset. After snapping the shot, she wished us well and disappeared down the beach. As John wrapped his arms around my waist, he whispered, “We’re having a baby. I can’t believe it.” I looked up at him. “You ready for this adventure?” He kissed me deeply, resting his forehead against mine. “I’ve never been more ready. I love you, Rosa.” “I love you too,” I whispered, intertwining my fingers with his. We stood there, feeling the breeze and listening to the waves, our hearts full and our future brighter than ever. As we gathered our things and headed back to the resort, I took one last look at the fading sun and said, “Whatever comes next, I’m ready—as long as it’s with you.” That anniversary trip turned out to be more than a celebration—it was the beginning of a brand-new chapter, and I couldn’t wait for the story we were about to write together.
