Just as John and I basked in our anniversary bliss on the beach, a woman in a swimsuit ran up, knelt before him, and uttered his name. My heart stopped. Who was she, and what could she possibly want from my husband? Little did I know, I was in for a tear-jerking awakening that day.”JOHN… No, please don’t leave me… John!” I shrieked, jolting awake in an empty bed. My heart was racing as I realized it was just a nightmare. I’m Rosa, and I just had the worst dream ever. My husband John had abandoned me in some tropical paradise, surrounded by turquoise waters and swaying palm trees. As the morning sun peeked through the curtains, I tried to shake off the uneasy feeling.”Rosa? You okay?” John’s voice called from the hallway. H

e appeared in the doorway, a concerned look on his face. I let out a sigh of relief. “Yeah, just a bad dream. What time is it?” “It’s almost 9. I made coffee,” he said with a smile. “Oh, and happy anniversary, sweetheart.”My eyes widened. How could I forget? It was our 10th wedding anniversary! I jumped out of bed and threw my arms around him. “Happy anniversary, John! I can’t believe it’s been ten years already.”John’s eyes twinkled with excitement. “I’ve got a surprise for you. Close your eyes and hold out your hands.” I did as he asked, feeling something light placed in my palms. When I opened my eyes, I saw two plane tickets. “No way,” I gasped, reading the destination. “The Dominican Republic? Are you serious?” John grinned. “Pack your bags, babe. We leave in three hours.”I squealed with delight, peppering his face with kisses. “John, this is amazing! I can’t believe you did this!” “Better hurry,” he laughed. “You’ve got 20 minutes to pack before we need to hit the road.” As I rushed to throw clothes into a suitcase, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. John had been so busy with work lately, and I hadn’t seen much of him. This trip was exactly what we needed to reconnect. “Ready for our adventure?” John asked, leaning against the doorframe. I zipped up my bag and smiled. “With you? Always.”The flight to the Dominican Republic was a blur of excitement and anticipation. As we stepped off the plane, the warm tropical air enveloped us like a welcoming embrace. “Oh my God, John, it’s beautiful!” I exclaimed, taking in the lush greenery and vibrant colors surrounding the airport. John squeezed my hand. “Just wait until you see where we’re staying.” A sleek black car was waiting to whisk us away to our resort. As we drove along the coast, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the sparkling turquoise waters.”I can’t believe you kept this a secret,” I said, turning to John. “How long have you been planning this?”He gave me a sly smile. “Let’s just say it wasn’t easy with all those late nights at the office.” A pang of guilt hit me as I remembered how distant we’d been lately. “I’m sorry I’ve been so wrapped up in my own stuff. I know your new project has been demanding.” John’s expression softened. “Hey, that’s why we’re here. No work, no distractions. Just us.”The car pulled up to a stunning beachfront resort. Palm trees swayed in the breeze, and I could hear the gentle lapping of waves on the shore. “Welcome to paradise!” our driver announced with a grin. As we checked in, I couldn’t stop gawking at the luxurious lobby. “John, this must have cost a fortune,” I whispered.He just winked at me. “Nothing but the best for my girl.”Our room was even more spectacular — a spacious suite with a private balcony overlooking the ocean. I stepped out onto the balcony, breathing in the salty air. John came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “What do you think? Was it worth the wait?” I turned in his arms, looking up into his warm brown eyes. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”He leaned down to kiss me, and for a moment, all my worries melted away. As we broke apart, John’s stomach growled loudly, making us both laugh. “I guess that’s our cue to find some food,” I giggled. “What do you say we hit the beach and grab some snacks?” John grinned. “Race you to the water!” As we ran towards the sparkling sea, hand in hand, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this trip was going to change everything.The next couple of days were a whirlwind of sun, sand, and pure bliss. We lounged on the beach, sipping from fresh coconuts and indulging in mouthwatering seafood. Every night, we danced bachata under the stars, our bodies moving in perfect sync.On our third evening, we sprawled out on a sun lounger, watching the sunset paint the sky in brilliant hues of orange and pink. I rested my head on John’s chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. “Why haven’t we done this before?” I asked, tracing lazy circles on his arm.John’s chest rumbled with a low chuckle. “I couldn’t think of a better time than our anniversary. Plus, I wanted it to be a surprise.” I tilted my head up to look at him. “Well, consider me thoroughly surprised and completely spoiled.” As we lay there, I thought about the little surprise I had for John. My hand unconsciously drifted to my stomach, where our little secret was growing. I’d found out I was pregnant just before the trip and had been waiting for the perfect moment to tell him.”What’s on your mind?” John asked, noticing my thoughtful expression. I smiled mysteriously. “Oh, nothing. Just thinking about how lucky I am.” He kissed the top of my head. “I’m the lucky one.” As the last rays of sunlight painted the sky in brilliant oranges and pinks, John sat up suddenly. “Hey, want to take a walk on the beach? The sunset’s always magical here.” I nodded eagerly, already planning how I’d reveal my news. “Sounds perfect.”We strolled hand in hand along the shoreline, the warm water lapping at our feet. The fading light cast a golden glow over the beach and made everything look magical. I took a deep breath, reaching into my pocket to feel the small gift box I’d brought from New York. “John, there’s something I want to tell you—” I said. Suddenly, a figure appeared in the dimming light, running towards us. Before I could process what was happening, a woman in a white swimsuit dropped to her knees in front of John.”John!” she cried out. “You’re the love of my life. It’s time you stopped pretending and told her everything. I want you to be my one and only. Will you marry me?”I froze, my hand still clutching the gift box in my pocket. The world seemed to tilt on its axis as I looked from the woman to John, waiting for him to say something… anything… to explain what was happening.John’s face drained of color, his mouth opening and closing without a sound. And then, to my utter disbelief, he burst out laughing. My heart pounded in my chest as John’s laughter echoed across the beach. Was this some kind of sick joke? I watched in horror as he reached down and helped the woman to her feet, pulling her into a tight hug. “You couldn’t choose a better time, right?” John chuckled, still holding the stranger.Tears stung my eyes as I found my voice. “What the heck is going on? John, who is she?” I choked out, my earlier joy evaporating like mist in the sun. The nightmare I’d had on our anniversary morning came rushing back. John leaving me alone in a tropical paradise… Was this some twisted version of that dream coming true? John turned to me, his eyes widening as he saw the tears on my face. “Rosa, honey, I’m so sorry,” he said quickly, stepping towards me. “This is Julia. We studied together in college.”Julia grinned, extending her hand. “Nice to meet you, Rosa. I hope I didn’t scare you too badly.” I stared at her hand, unable to process what was happening. John continued, “I once mocked her during a theater performance and everyone had a good laugh. She promised to get her revenge someday, and I guess this is it!” Julia nodded enthusiastically. “That’s right! I saw him from a distance and spent 20 minutes trying to figure out if it was really him. When I was sure, I couldn’t resist staging a little prank!”As their words sank in, the tension in my body slowly began to unwind. It was just a prank. A stupid, ill-timed prank.”You… you’re not leaving me, right?” I nervously asked John. His face softened as he pulled me into his arms. “Never, Rosa. I’m so sorry we scared you. I had no idea Julia was here or that she’d do this.” I let out a shaky laugh, gently bumping my fist against his chest. “I almost had a mini heart attack, you jerk.”As the relief washed over me, I remembered the gift box in my pocket. Maybe now was the perfect time after all. “Sweetie,” I said, pulling back to look at John. “I’m sorry, I won’t kneel, but… there was something I was gonna tell you a few minutes ago.”I pulled out the small box and placed it in his hand.John’s eyes widened, a look of pure joy spreading across his face when he opened the box and held out a delicate silver chain with a tiny locket in the shape of a pair of baby feet dangling from it. “You’re… we’re… Oh my God, Rosa!” He lifted me off the ground, spinning me around as we both laughed. “I’m pregnant!” I revealed with a smile.Julia watched us with a grin. “Well, I guess that means I lost my chance. Congratulations, you two! Let me take a picture to commemorate the moment.” As John set me down, he turned to Julia. “Thanks, Julia. And you really got me good this time!” “I told you I would!” Julia laughed. “But seriously, congratulations. You both deserve all the happiness.”We posed for a quick photo, silhouetted against the vibrant orange and pink glow of the setting sun. As Julia said her goodbyes and headed back to the beach, John wrapped his arm around my waist. “So,” he said, his voice filled with wonder, “we’re going to be parents.”I nodded, leaning into him. “Yes, Daddy! Are you happy?”John’s answer was a deep, passionate kiss that left me breathless. When we finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against mine. “I’ve never been happier. I love you, Rosa.” “I love you too,” I whispered back, my hand finding his and intertwining our fingers.As we stood there, the warm breeze ruffling our hair and the sound of waves in our ears, I felt a sense of peace and excitement wash over me. With this tiny bundle of joy nestled inside me and with my John by my side, I was looking forward to nothing but happiness. “Ready to head back?” John asked, picking up our bags. I nodded, taking one last look at the beautiful sunset. “Ready for anything, as long as it’s with you.”Hand in hand, we walked back to our resort, our hearts full of love and our minds filled with dreams of the future. This trip had been more than just an anniversary celebration. It was the beginning of a whole new chapter in our lives and I couldn’t wait to see what adventures lay ahead.