I watch her from across the cabin, legs tucked beneath her, forehead pressed lightly to the window as endless blue sky wraps around the jet. She still has no idea where we’re going, and keeping the secret this long has been torture - in the best way. When she asked what to pack, I only said, “Warm weather things. Trust me.” And she did - though she asked for hints every single day leading up to this trip.

Now we’re descending, the soft chime echoing through the quiet private jet, and my heart kicks a little faster. I squeeze her hand. “Ready to know?”

She turns, eyes bright, suspicious. “Finally. Yes. Tell me.”

I can’t hold back the grin. “We’re landing in Africa.”

She blinks. Stares. Then shakes her head slowly. “Lando..don’t mess with me. Seriously. Don’t mess with me.”

“I’m not.” I laugh because her disbelief is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. “We’re going on a safari. Your dream trip.”

It takes a full three seconds for the words to sink in. Then her lips part, her breath shivers, and tears immediately fill her eyes - pure, overwhelmed joy.

“You’re..serious?” she whispers.

“Yeah, love. Completely.”

When the wheels touch the runway and the door opens to warm, dry air that smells like sun-baked earth, she’s crying for real, hands covering her mouth. I pull her into my chest, kiss the top of her head. “Welcome to Africa.”

A sleek black SUV waits for us outside. The driver greets us with a warm smile, loads our bags, and we set off across a landscape that looks almost unreal - red soil stretching endlessly, low acacia trees casting delicate shadows, distant mountains blurred by heat. She keeps wiping her eyes, mumbling, “I can’t believe you did this,” and I just keep holding her hand, watching her fall in love with every passing second.

When we reach the villa, she goes silent again - not shock this time, but deep awe. The place is tucked far away from anything else, a hidden pocket of luxury woven into nature. The living room feels like it breathes - open, airy, flooded with sunlight. Floor-to-ceiling glass panels reveal the savanna as if it’s part of the house itself. The walls are a soft sand color, the furniture bright and warm, natural textures everywhere. Outside, a private pool glitters under the late-afternoon sun, framed by wooden decking and nothing but the quiet hum of nature.

“Oh my god..” she whispers, turning in a slow circle. “Lando, this is - this is unreal.”

“Good surprise?” I ask, trying to sound casual even though pride is radiating off me like heat.

She rushes into my arms, laughter tangled with leftover tears. “It’s perfect. It’s everything.”

We fall asleep early, wrapped in warm air, soft sheets, and the faint sounds of wildlife somewhere in the distance - a reminder that we’re really here, in the heart of the place she’s dreamed about forever.

Before dawn, she’s already awake, perched on the edge of the bed, practically vibrating with excitement. “Safari day,” she whispers, tying her hair up with shaky hands.

Seeing her like this - alive, glowing, nervous in the best way - makes me feel like I’d fly her to the edge of the world if she asked.

The jeep rumbles along a dirt track as the sun lifts above the horizon, painting everything in soft pink and gold. She grips my arm tightly, leaning forward, eyes wide. Dust swirls behind us, warm wind brushing our faces, the land stretching wide and endless.

Then our guide points ahead. “Look there. Your first ones.”

Giraffes - tall, elegant silhouettes stepping through golden grass, their movements slow and graceful, almost dreamlike.

Her breath catches. She goes completely still, completely silent - a trance, reverence settling over her like something sacred. I watch her instead of the giraffes, because nothing compares to the way her eyes soften, the way her whole body melts into awe.

When she finally exhales, it’s a shaky, whispered, “Lando..this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

And I think, not for the first time, that I’d cross continents again - again and again - just to see her look at the world like this.