It was our 10th wedding anniversary, and John had planned everything down to the smallest detail. He surprised me with tickets to the Dominican Republic, giving me just 20 minutes to pack my bags before we set off for a tropical paradise.
Lately, we hadn’t been spending much time together. His new project kept him busy, and our interactions were limited to brief glances in the morning and hurried kisses at night. This trip was a precious gift for both of us, a chance to reconnect and relive the passion that brought us together a decade ago.
The first few days were magical. We drank coconut water straight from the fruit, savored fresh seafood, and danced bachata under the starry sky every night.
THE PERFECT MOMENT
That special afternoon, we walked hand in hand along the beach, our feet gently brushing against the warm ocean water. The sunset painted the sky in shades of gold and pink, and I knew it was the perfect moment to tell John my little secret.
I had discovered I was pregnant just days before the trip and had been waiting for the right time to share the news. My hand trembled slightly as I held a small box in the pocket of my dress.
“John,” I began with a shaky voice, “I have something to tell you…“
Before I could finish, a woman appeared running across the sand, her wet hair clinging to her face and a white swimsuit glistening under the last rays of the sun. She fell to her knees in front of John, her eyes brimming with tears.
“John! You are the love of my life. It’s time to stop pretending and tell her everything. I want you to be mine. Will you marry me?“
THE DEAFENING SILENCE
The world seemed to freeze. The box in my pocket felt as heavy as a stone. My heart was beating so hard I could barely hear the sound of the waves crashing on the shore.
John stood frozen, his lips parting but no words coming out. The silence between the three of us was agonizing.
I looked from John to the unknown woman, desperately searching his eyes for an explanation, but all I saw was shock and disbelief.
“John,” my voice cracked, “Who is she? What’s going on here?“
Then John did something completely unexpected: he laughed. Not a nervous chuckle, but a deep, genuine laugh, as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
He bent down, helped the woman up, and pulled her into a hug.
“Julia! Did you really do this? After all these years?“
THE UNEXPECTED REVEAL
The woman, now smiling, extended her hand toward me.
“Hi, Rosa. I’m Julia, an old college friend of John’s. Years ago, during a theater presentation, he played a prank on me in front of everyone, and they all laughed. I promised I would get back at him someday! When I saw him on the beach, I couldn’t resist.”
John shook his head, still laughing.
“I’m so sorry, love. I had no idea Julia was here.”
The tension in my chest slowly began to ease. It was just a joke — a poorly timed and ridiculous prank, but nothing more.
I let out a deep breath, trying to join in their laughter.
“You… you nearly gave me a heart attack!”
Julia apologized once again before saying goodbye and leaving us alone under the vibrant sunset sky.
A NEW BEGINNING
John approached me, cupped my face in his hands, and looked into my eyes with tenderness.
“Rosa, you know no one and nothing could ever take me away from you, right?“
I nodded, feeling tears of relief streaming down my face.
“I also have something to tell you,” I said, pulling the small box from my pocket and placing it in his hands.
John slowly opened it, revealing a tiny silver pendant shaped like baby footprints.
“Are you… are we…? Oh my God!”
John lifted me off the ground, spinning me around as he laughed and cried at the same time.
“I’m pregnant, John! We’re going to have a baby.“
He carefully set me down and kissed my forehead.
“This is the greatest gift I could ever receive. I love you so much, Rosa.”
Hand in hand, we walked back to the resort, leaving footprints in the sand that the ocean would soon wash away.
That trip wasn’t just a celebration of our anniversary; it was the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, filled with love, hope, and the sweet expectation of a new life growing inside me.
The End.