**8:12 PM**
Sam and I have been together for two years. I think that's a long time. You only stay with someone for two years if you truly love and care about them. Today is our second anniversary, and I've been thinking about it for weeks. I bought his gift two weeks ago. I made pizza and garlic bread, our romantic menu. I'm thinking we'll open a bottle from Sam's wine collection. I'm setting the table and lighting a few candles.
**8:26 PM**
He usually comes home earlier. I blow out the candles. I'll light them again when I hear the elevator. This morning, he said he'd be home early, so I text him to make sure.
**9:00 PM**
He still hasn't replied to my message. I call him, but the line is busy. The food has gone cold. We'll just reheat it in the microwave, I guess. I scroll through social media to pass the time.
**9:30 PM**
Nothing interesting. Everyone seems so happy, getting ready for big New Year's parties. I tried calling him again, but now his phone is off. I might as well read a book to kill time. *I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki* by Baek Sehee?
**10:33 PM**
I started the book yesterday, and now I've finished it. I only realized how much time had passed when I looked at the clock. He's two hours late? I don't call again, but his phone is still off. What do I do now to pass the time? It feels like I've run out of options.
**11:00 PM**
I started a movie, but I can't focus. *My King?*
**1:10 AM**
It was a beautiful movie, but why am I crying? Sure, it wasn't a comedy, but still, is it normal for it to affect me this much? I've called him five more times since my last call and sent a couple of texts, but nothing worked. Is something wrong? How did I not think of this sooner? He would never be late, especially without letting me know. What if something bad happened? I have Jacob's number, one of his coworkers. I call him. He answers, but it's too loud to hear anything.
*Hey, it's been too long,
Too long to go, my love,
Where did we go wrong?
Too late to turn around,
Where are you now?
Where are you now?*
(*Where Are You Now* by Calum Scott and Lost Frequencies)
"Hey, Jacob! Do you know where Sam is? Could he still be at work?"
"Girl, just because you're dating doesn't mean you have to be together 24/7. Leave the guy alone - and me, too. Don't call again. Let us have some fun."
He hung up before I could say anything else.
I'm sure he's drunk, but still? Am I putting too much pressure on Sam? Am I smothering him? He said 24/7... But we don't even live in the same city. I'm only here for two weeks on my annual leave. Was it selfish to want to spend every day of those two weeks with him? Maybe it was on the other days, but today? Today is the reason I came here, our anniversary.
I only realize I'm crying when I feel the wetness on my cheeks. I've not only been a burden to my parents but also to the man I call the love of my life. I used to blame my parents, thinking they didn't value me enough, but maybe the problem is me.
**3:00 AM**
"Shit!"
The first thing Sam saw when he came home was his girlfriend asleep on the couch. Then he noticed the table, decorated with candles and roses.
He grabbed a blanket and covered her. Why on earth is this crazy woman wearing a dress in December? He thought he recognized the dress - it was familiar. A female coworker had picked it out for him as a birthday gift for his girlfriend, but he couldn't remember if he'd ever noticed her wearing it. Then again, he'd been too drunk to notice much tonight - or maybe he wouldn't have remembered even if he hadn't been. He'd ordered it online, handed it to her without even opening the package, and forgotten about it.
His stomach growled. He walked to the table and served himself a slice of pizza and some garlic bread. Unfortunately, he could only take one bite. It was ice cold. He grimaced as he chewed the cold, hard pizza. Something else caught his attention - a black box with a red heart sticker on top. Inside the box were a watch, a wallet, a keychain, a pen, sunglasses, a ring, and a bracelet. And a note attached to everything:
*Thank you, my love. I've spent the best two years of my life with you. Thank you for entering my life and changing it, for showing me that another kind of life is possible. Thank you for not only loving me but also teaching me to love myself. Thank you, my love.*
"Shit!"
It was the second time Sam muttered the word since he got home. His mind only cleared when he read the note. He'd gone out with his friends after work on their anniversary. Of course - she'd taken time off work to come here for this. Now he remembered. He'd have to make this up to her somehow, but how? What could he do to make her forgive him? Before he could think of anything, she opened her eyes.
**3:15 AM**
I think my head hurts from crying. The couch is so uncomfortable; my neck and back hurt, too. I don't know what time it is, but when I lift my head, I see that Sam is here. He notices I'm awake and comes over.
He sits beside me, takes my hands in his, and kisses my palm.
"I'm sorry, my love."
He strokes my hair, tucking a strand behind my ear.
"You know how busy I've been at work lately. I completely forgot today was our anniversary. After work, the guys invited me for a drink, and I agreed to clear my head. But whether today was special or not - and every day is special because you're here with me - I should've come to you. Will you forgive me, my love?"
I think for a few seconds. I want to ask why he turned off his phone instead of answering, but maybe he just wanted to disconnect from everything, even me, for a while. He seems so sincere, genuinely upset and regretful. I don't want to make him wait any longer, so I nod slightly. He hugs me tightly.
"I love you so much. You know how much you mean to me, don't you?"
My eyes well up again, but this time I don't let the tears fall. I bury my face in his neck - it always calms me - and nod again. I can't speak, or I'll start crying.
"I'll make it up to you. A new pizza restaurant just opened. We'll go there together and have a romantic evening."
I'm 26, and Sam is the first person in 26 years to apologize to me. For the first time in my life, I'm not disappointed, my heart isn't broken. And for the first time, someone who hurt me is trying to fix it. If he didn't truly care about me, would he do this? Because I need to be sure he loves me. Some people have said or done things that broke my heart forever, yet they've never apologized. Even when I was right, I've always been the one to apologize just so they wouldn't feel bad or abandon me.
