<h1 style="text-align: center;">A Valentine’s Day Story of Unexpected Love</h1>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://media.istockphoto.com/id/1196616568/es/vector/feliz-d%C3%ADa-de-san-valent%C3%ADn-tarjeta-de-felicitaci%C3%B3n-de-texto-dibujado-a-mano-ilustraci%C3%B3n.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=yANbkloYUXUlZ85S4JakSLov4pQKFH_w8MmYheaW6QQ=" alt="" width="800" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Published under copyright by </em><a href="https://www.loveawake.com/free-online-dating/Panama-dating-service.html"><em>Loveawake</em></a><em> dating site © Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.</em></p>
<p>Because, I don’t really have too many thoughts on Valentine’s Day as a Hallmark Holiday. When you’re in a relationship it’s cool and when you’re not it can suck. Whatever. Doesn’t matter to me, so I’ll spare anyone my complete thoughts on the day. Instead, a story of what I can remember was an unexpectedly good Valentine’s Day. There are three basic type of Valentine’s Day couples: The new couple who get totally into it. The old couple who are totally over it. The couple who are hanging on to a very thin thread, about to break up, using the holiday as a way to make up for all the BS they’ve given one another up until February 14.</p>
<h2><strong>Love Among Struggles</strong></h2>
<p>On this particular Valentine’s Day, my ex-girlfriend and I were definitely in the third group. We got in a fight Valentine’s Day morning. She had just moved out and we were trying to adjust to new circumstances of our relationship. After living together for close to a year, we were now in separate apartments, but still in a relationship. She spent the night of course, and I do recall us making love that morning, then getting into a fight, but what about I can’t seem to recall now. We left my apartment angry at one another, but I still had intentions of sticking to the plans I made for her. This year it was going to be really simple. My years of working in fine dining throughout high school and college taught me Valentine’s Day is one of the worst days to go out to dinner. The plan was for me to make dinner for her instead; steamed lobster tails, roasted corn on the cob and roasted potatoes. Real simple. I bought some decadent dessert too and some Red Vines her favorite candy. Then I bought some bath candles, and asked to leave work early that day so I would have time to set everything up for her.</p>
<h2><strong>Small Gestures with Big Meanings</strong></h2>
<p>That day, we didn’t talk. I only called her to confirm she was still coming over and she said she was. The conversation was simple: Her: This is ******* Me: Hey, it’s me Her: Hey Me: Your day going well? Her: Yeah. Yours? Me: Cool…Ummm, look, you still coming over after work? Her: Yeah, I’m coming over. Me: Okay, call me when you’re on way. Her: Call you, got it. Me: Cool. See you later. Her: Bye See? Simple. I arrived at my place an hour before I knew she was getting off. When I walked into my apartment, I put the groceries on the counter, headed into the bathroom and on my bed there was a large gift bag and a card sticking out. In front of that big, three sets of lingerie. I grabbed the card and it read: Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetie! Sorry about this morning. We’ll make up for it tonight. Choose one of the sets, enjoy your gift in the bag. For more relationship insights, see <a href="https://blog.loveawake.com/2024/12/11/how-to-build-a-lasting-relationship-beyond-ideal-proposals/">how to build a lasting relationship beyond ideal proposals</a> and <a href="https://blog.loveawake.com/2025/05/19/yes-no-how-indecision-affects-relationships/">how indecision affects relationships</a>.</p>
<h2><strong>Unplanned Moments and True Care</strong></h2>
<p>In the bag was a robe. It was actually the same type of robe I saw her dad rocking in some Christmas pictures her family sent to us, a couple months prior. I remember telling her I needed a robe in my life. She was good at remembering those types of things, and this Valentine’s Day gift was proof. She also had in the bag, Soul Food Season 4. That was our favorite show. It wasn’t on when we were dating, but we watched the series on DVD, so the box had a note that said, “In case we get around to it, we need to watch Episode…” I forgot the number. Of course, seeing the gifts changed everything. I was already enthusiastic about surprising her, now, the enthusiasm was turned all the way up. I made sure everything was perfect and just as I took the roasted potatoes out of the oven and the bath tub was filled with the right amount of water, she comes in…sick as hell. “Damn, baby,” I said. “Are you okay?” “I think I’m coming down with the flu,” she said. “I’m just so tired, and ugh…I don’t feel good.” “Well, here, I drew you a bath, get in there. It might help.” I took her clothes off, as she sprawled out over the lingerie. This was of course, not what we planned, but I remember not being the slightest bit bothered and her grumbling apologies. I helped her to the bathroom and getting into the tub. While in there, I asked her if she was hungry. She said she was, and asked me what smelled so good when she walked in. I told her the menu, and she smiled, but I knew this wasn’t the meal for her. I told her I would be right back, and to just soak. I threw on some shoes, a jacket and walked two blocks down the street. There on the corner is the Chinese food restaurant we went to when we didn’t feel like cooking or just had a taste for some chicken lo mein and won-ton soup. Won-ton soup, that was what she liked from there, so I ordered it for her in their largest size. When I came back home, I heard her getting out of the tub, so I rushed into the kitchen, threw the won-ton soup in a large bowl and came into the room. She was shivering in her towel, so I covered her up with the robe she got me, put her under the covers and sat her up. I then cleared the bed of the lingerie and the cards. I threw the Soul Food DVD on, right where we left off, told her Happy Valentine’s Day and started feeding her the soup. She said she was sorry again for the fight and for how Valentine’s Day turned out. I told her don’t be, it was the best Valentine’s Day I had. To this day, that remains true. For more on communication in relationships, see <a href="https://blog.loveawake.com/2020/03/30/a-fun-way-to-save-your-relationships/">a fun way to save your relationships</a>.</p>
<p> </p>