As John and I enjoyed the bliss of our anniversary on the beach, a woman in a swimsuit suddenly rushed toward him, knelt down, and called out his name. My heart skipped a beat. Who was she, and why did she know my husband? I was about to have an emotional awakening that would shake me to my core.

“JOHN! Please, don’t leave me, John!” I screamed, jolting awake in an empty bed. My heart raced as I realized it was just a nightmare. My name is Rosa, and I had the worst dream ever. In it, John had abandoned me on some tropical island, surrounded by crystal-clear waters and palm trees swaying in the breeze. As the first light of morning filtered through the curtains, I tried to shake off the unsettling feeling.

“Rosa? Are you okay?” John called from the hallway, his voice full of concern as he appeared in the doorway.

I exhaled a sigh of relief. “Yeah, just a bad dream. What time is it?”

“It’s almost 9. I made coffee,” he said with a grin. “And happy anniversary, sweetheart.”

My eyes widened as I realized today was our 10th wedding anniversary! How could I have forgotten? I leaped out of bed, throwing my arms around him. “Happy anniversary, John! I can’t believe it’s been ten years already.”

John’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’ve got a surprise for you. Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”

Following his instructions, I felt something light placed in my palms. Opening 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’re leaving in three hours.”

I squealed with excitement, covering his face with kisses. “John, this is incredible! I can’t believe you planned this!”

“Better hurry,” he laughed. “You’ve only got 20 minutes to pack before we need to hit the road.”

As I hurriedly stuffed clothes into a suitcase, a wave of guilt washed over me. John had been so busy with work lately, and I hadn’t spent much time with him. This trip was exactly what we needed to reconnect.

“Ready for our adventure?” John asked, leaning casually against the doorframe.

I zipped up my bag and smiled. “With you? Always.”

The flight to the Dominican Republic was a blur of excitement. When we finally stepped off the plane, the warm tropical air embraced us.

“Oh my God, John, it’s gorgeous!” I exclaimed, taking in the vibrant scenery surrounding the airport.

John squeezed my hand. “Just wait until you see where we’re staying.”

A sleek black car whisked us away to our resort along the beautiful coastline. I couldn’t take my eyes off the turquoise waters as they sparkled in the sunlight.

“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 work.”

As the guilt resurfaced, I placed my hand on his arm. “I’m sorry I’ve been so distracted. I know you’ve been working hard on your project.”

John’s expression softened. “That’s exactly why we’re here—no work, no distractions, just us.”

When we arrived at the beachfront resort, I was in awe of its beauty. Palm trees swayed in the breeze, and the sound of waves lapping against the shore was pure paradise.

“Welcome to heaven!” our driver announced with a grin.

After checking in, we entered our luxurious suite, which boasted a private balcony overlooking the ocean. I stepped outside, inhaling the salty air as John wrapped his arms around my waist.

“Was it worth the wait?” he whispered.

I turned in his arms and smiled. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”

John leaned down and kissed me, and in that moment, all my worries faded away. I knew this trip was going to bring us closer than ever. Little did he know, I had a surprise of my own—one that would change our lives forever.