The next day, I woke up to an empty bed. Faruk was already gone, but there was something different about the quiet of the room today. As I stretched and sat up, my eyes landed on the bedside table. There, neatly placed, was a single red rose, a note, and two small boxes. I hesitated for a moment before picking up the note, my heart racing as I read Faruk’s familiar handwriting.
“I’ll miss you while I’m away. I love you. There’s a surprise waiting for you outside. Enjoy it.”
The words felt heavier than I expected, each one stirring something inside me that I wasn’t ready to confront. But before I could dwell on it, my curiosity got the better of me. I opened the first box, revealing a pair of stunning diamond earrings that sparkled in the morning light. They were delicate but elegant—noth
