Time had passed since that fateful night when Alex had shared a glimpse of his wartime trauma with Sarah. The support and understanding she offered had meant the world to him, but the emotional barriers between them remained, like an unspoken chasm that threatened to divide their love.

Time flew and the calendar turned, and with it came a significant date—a milestone in their relationship. It was their first anniversary as a couple, a day they had both been looking forward to with eager anticipation. In the lead-up to the special day, Alex's excitement had been growing, and he had secretly planned a surprise romantic getaway for the two of them.

But as the date drew near, something else began to preoccupy Sarah's mind—her career. She had landed a high-profile assignment, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cover an international summit on climate change, a topic close to her heart. The summit coincided with their anniversary, and the prospect of missing it weighed heavily on her.

A few days before the anniversary, as they sat at the breakfast table, Alex mentioned the surprise getaway he had planned. He could hardly contain his excitement as he revealed the details of the romantic weekend at a secluded beachfront cottage, complete with a candlelit dinner under the stars.

Sarah's reaction, however, was a mixture of surprise and worry. Her eyes shifted between excitement and uncertainty, and she fidgeted with the edge of her newspaper. "Alex, that sounds amazing, and I appreciate the effort you've put into planning it. But there's something I need to tell you."

He looked at her, concern creasing his forehead. "What's going on, Sarah?"

She sighed and set down the newspaper. "I've just been offered an assignment, one that I've been dreaming of for years. It's to cover the climate summit, and it's a massive opportunity for my career. But it falls on our anniversary weekend."

Alex's smile faded, replaced by a sense of disappointment. He had been looking forward to this getaway for months, and the realization that it might not happen left a bitter taste in his mouth. "You're saying you can't go on the trip?"

She nodded. "I don't want to miss our anniversary, Alex, but this opportunity is too important to miss. It's a chance to make a real impact with my work."

His insecurities, which he had kept hidden away for so long, began to surface. He felt a pang of jealousy, not towards her success, but towards the way it seemed to take precedence over their relationship.

It was a complex emotion, one that he had trouble articulating, but it was rooted in the fear of being left behind, of losing the love that had come to mean so much to him.

He tried to sound supportive, even though his voice betrayed his disappointment. "I understand, Sarah. Your career is important, and I'm proud of all you've achieved. But it's just... I was really looking forward to celebrating our anniversary together."

Sarah reached out and took his hand, her eyes filled with empathy. "I know, Alex. I wish there was another way, but this is a unique opportunity, and I can't pass it up."

Their conversation ended on a bittersweet note, with the unspoken tension of unmet expectations hanging in the air. The days leading up to their anniversary were marked by a sense of unease, as both of them grappled with the difficult decision that lay ahead.

On the morning of their anniversary, Alex awoke to an empty bed. He had hoped that Sarah might have changed her mind about the assignment, but the realization that she had chosen her career over their celebration left him with a sense of emptiness.

As he made his way downstairs, he found a note on the kitchen table. It was from Sarah, a heartfelt message expressing her love and regret for not being able to spend their special day together. She promised to make it up to him when she returned. He opened the envelope and brought out the note and read it.

'To the man who owns my heart.'

Alex's heart became heavy when he saw the heading and thought that if he actually owned her she would have stayed with him for their anniversary but still didn't want to be a baby about it and accept what has happened. He continued reading the note.

'Alex, I know you would be very disappointed in me for choosing my career instead of celebrating our anniversary together. I want you to know that I love you but I also have dreams, dreams I want to pursue till they come true. This is a stepping stone to my career greatness and I don't want anything to get in the way of that. I know this sounds selfish but you how passionate I am about my work. I promise after this, it will never happen again. I regret deeply for not being with you right now. Even writing this letter makes me miss you more but I have to do what I need to do to be great. Please, do not feel like a chose my career over you. You are both very important to me and I really appreciate the romantic getaway you planned and I promise once I am back, we would go on that romantic getaway. Thank you very much for caring and taking care of my heart like no one ever did. I love a million times. And once again, I am sorry and I will see you in a few days. Bye for now and I will always love you.

Yours Sincerely
Sarah ❤️❤️❤️

While her words were filled with love and sincerity, they did little to ease the disappointment that gnawed at Alex's heart. He had made an effort to plan a perfect day, but now it seemed that all his preparations had been in vain.

Throughout the day, he tried to keep himself occupied, reminding himself of the love they shared and the understanding he had for Sarah's career ambitions. But the shadows of his insecurities and the feeling of being overshadowed by her career loomed in the background, like a stormy cloud on their anniversary.

As the evening approached, he decided to visit the beachfront cottage he had rented. The sight of the tranquil sea and the gentle sound of the waves offered a temporary solace. He lit the candles he had brought for their romantic dinner and sat down alone, a glass of wine in hand, his thoughts a whirlwind of mixed emotions.

The sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the water, and the stars emerged, one by one, in the darkening sky. It was a picturesque scene, a tableau of love and longing, but the absence of the person he cared about the most left Alex feeling isolated and insignificant.

Just as he was beginning to accept that their anniversary celebration was not meant to be, he received a text message from Sarah. It was a photo of her at the summit, holding a placard with her name and press credentials, a proud smile on her face.

The message that accompanied it was filled with love and promises of a belated celebration.

Alex couldn't help but smile at her success and determination, even as his own insecurities lingered in the background. He replied with a heartfelt message,

"Sarah, I am so proud of you, pursuing your dreams and making them a reality. You inspire me girl and I am awaiting your return for us to celebrate our anniversary. It's so lonely without you. I love you. Keep flying."

Their exchange, while warm and loving, couldn't completely fill the emotional gap that had opened up between them. It was a gap that would continue to define their relationship, a complex balance between love and career, and the ongoing struggle to navigate the insecurities that threatened to undermine the passionate and intense love they had built.

As the night continued, Alex sat alone on the beachfront cottage, gazing at the stars and contemplating the choices they had made, the love that bound them, and the challenges that lay ahead