Valentines Day

The apartment was bathed in candlelight, the soft flickering flames casting warm shadows over the neatly set table. A bouquet of roses sat in a vase at the center, their petals rich and red—her favorite color, Joseph had decided. Plates were arranged perfectly, silverware polished, and two glasses of red wine stood waiting.

A love song played softly from the speaker in the corner. Joseph hummed along as he adjusted the deep red dress draped over her frozen frame.

Therese sat elegantly at the table, just as he had posed her. Her hands rested gently on her lap, her dark eyes gazing forward in perpetual silence. She was breathtaking, flawless, a vision of beauty that would never change.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, my love,” Joseph murmured, taking his seat across from her.

He had gone all out. A home-cooked meal—steak, roasted vegetables, and even a chocolate cake for dessert. He had spent hours perfecting everything, making sure the night was just right.

Joseph lifted his wine glass. “To us,” he said, clinking it against the untouched glass in front of her.

He took a sip, then smiled. “You always did seem too refined for cheap wine. I’ll finish it for you, don’t worry.”

He ate slowly, taking small bites, savoring the moment. Between bites, he talked—about his day, about how campus had become background noise to him now. None of it mattered when she was here, waiting for him.

“I saw a couple at the coffee shop today,” he said with a small smirk. “They were arguing about something stupid. Can you believe that? They have each other, and all they do is fight.”

Therese, of course, had no complaints. She never would.

Joseph reached across the table, gently tracing his fingers along her delicate hand.

“You and I… we’ll never have that problem,” he whispered.

A long pause stretched between them, filled only by the sound of the music. Joseph sighed, content, his thumb rubbing slow circles against her cold skin.

“This is the happiest I’ve ever been, Therese,” he admitted softly. “You don’t know how much I love you.”

She didn’t answer. She never would.

But that was okay.

Joseph smiled to himself as he refilled his glass.

This was perfect.

And it would stay that way forever.