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. He 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.”