And there was you

The morning sunlight poured through Zara Banks' bedroom window, casting a warm golden glow across the room. The soft curtains danced gently as the morning breeze slipped through the slightly opened window. Zara sat before her dressing table, carefully applying the final touches to her makeup. A smile rested on her lips as she examined her reflection in the mirror. She felt pleased with how she looked. Today was special. Very special. She stood slowly and turned from side to side, admiring the stunning purple dress she had purchased weeks earlier specifically for this day. The fitted dress hugged her figure perfectly, outlining her curves, while the silver earrings she wore complemented her soft makeup. She looked beautiful. For a moment, she simply stared at herself. A bright smile spread across her face. Today marked her fifth anniversary with Jason. Five years. Five years of endless conversations. Five years of late-night calls. Five years of shared dreams. Five years of promises about the future. Her mind drifted back to the day they first met. She had been twenty, shy and inexperienced, while Jason had been charming and full of confidence. Their friendship had slowly turned into love, and since then, she had built her entire future around him. They had survived arguments. Financial struggles. Distance. And difficult times. At least, that was what she believed. Her phone suddenly buzzed on the bed. She hurried over to pick it up. A smile immediately appeared on her face when she saw Jason's name. Good morning, sunshine ❤️. Don't forget our dinner tonight, baby. I have a surprise for you. Zara's heart skipped a beat. A surprise? That was unusual. Jason was not particularly romantic, so the message immediately made her curious. Her cheeks warmed. Maybe this was finally it. Maybe he was going to propose. She had never pressured him about marriage. She knew he wanted to become financially stable first, and she had patiently supported him through every difficult moment. Still, the thought of becoming Mrs. Jason Wilson made her heart race. She placed her hand against her chest. "Calm down, Zara," she whispered. But the excitement was impossible to control. She walked toward her wardrobe and removed the small gift box she had hidden several days earlier. Inside rested a gold wristwatch. Jason had admired it many times while passing a jewelry store downtown. He had once laughed and said, "Maybe one day, when I become rich." She had secretly saved part of her salary for weeks to buy it. It wasn't cheap. In fact, it had cost her almost all her savings. But she didn't regret it. She wanted him to be happy. "You're going to love it," she whispered softly. She carefully wrapped the gift again before placing it inside her handbag. Her eyes wandered toward a framed photograph on her bedside table. It was a picture of herself and Jason taken during their fourth anniversary. They were both smiling. He had his arm around her shoulder. She picked up the photograph. "Five years," she said quietly. Her heart filled with gratitude. She truly believed she was one of the lucky ones. Many of her friends had experienced heartbreak, betrayal, and disappointment. But not her. She trusted Jason completely. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Zara!" her younger sister, Tessa, called. "You're going to be late again!" Zara laughed. "Coming!" The door swung open. Tessa entered wearing her school uniform. "Wow," she said dramatically. "You look so hot. Who are you trying to kill with this beauty?" Zara laughed. "Nobody." "Liar. This is definitely anniversary preparation." Zara blushed. "Maybe." Tessa narrowed her eyes. "Do you think he'll propose?" "I don't know." "You've been together forever. If he doesn't propose soon, he'll have me to contend with." Zara burst into laughter. "Please don't." Their mother's voice came from downstairs. "Girls! Breakfast is getting cold!" "We're coming!" Tessa shouted. After Tessa left, Zara glanced at herself one last time. Everything felt perfect. The beautiful dress. The anniversary dinner. The surprise message. The gift. For some reason, she felt that today would change her life forever. She looked toward the wall clock hanging above her dressing table. Her eyes widened. The time was thirty minutes past eight. "Oh my God!" She was already late for work. She quickly grabbed her handbag, placed the gift safely inside, and hurried toward the door. As she rushed downstairs, her mother looked up from the dining table. "At least eat something!" "No time, Mom!" "Zara!" She grabbed a piece of bread from the table. "I'll eat in the car!" Tessa laughed. "Tell my future brother-in-law I said congratulations!" Zara shook her head. "You're impossible." She stepped outside into the bright morning sunlight. The air felt fresh. The world seemed beautiful. And her heart was full of hope. Little did Zara know that the day had something in store for her that her heart was not prepared to endure.