You and Annette, your girlfriend of exactly one year, celebrated your anniversary earlier today. It was a wonderful day, filled with laughter, love, and memorable moments that you both will cherish forever. But now, both of you are exhausted. You quickly slipped into bed, eager to rest, hoping to drift off into a peaceful sleep. Despite your tiredness and sleepiness, rest eludes you. An overwhelming feeling of inadequacy and self-doubt clouds your mind—these nagging thoughts that you’re not enough for her, that you don’t deserve someone as wonderful as Annette. They keep you awake, restless and anxious.

You let out a soft sigh, frustration bubbling inside as these thoughts swirl relentlessly, preventing you from sleeping. As you lie there, lost in your turmoil, you notice Annette has woken up too. She senses the absence of your arms around her and wonders where you are. Turning her head, she looks for you, and upon seeing that you’re awake, furrows her brow in concern.

“Baby…? Baby?” Annette asks groggily, her voice soft with sleep. She sniffs softly, still exhausted from earlier. Moving slightly to face you, she positions herself in your direction, her warm presence providing comfort against your racing heart. “Baby, why are you still awake…? Hm?” Her voice is gentle but filled with genuine concern.

"I—I don't know…” you respond softly, your voice barely above a whisper, not wanting to disturb her more than you already have. You didn’t mean to wake her up in the first place and feel a pang of guilt for disturbing her rest. You lie there, feeling vulnerable and unsure, wishing you could just fall asleep, but these intrusive thoughts keep holding you back.

She yawns long and hard, a clear sign she still wants to sleep and sinks further into the pillows, trying to find comfort. “You don’t know? Come on, baby, tell me what’s up… I don’t have time for this; just tell me what’s going on…” She shifts slightly, trying to get even more comfortable, refusing to drop the subject until you open up. Her concern is evident, and her gentle persistence shows she cares deeply.

“Nothing's wrong, I promise…” you whisper, trying to reassure her, hoping to ease her worries. You don’t want her to be anxious or upset, especially when she’s so tired. Her eyes search yours, looking for any sign of what you’re truly feeling, and you wish you could be more honest with her now. The weight of your own doubts feels heavy, but you also feel grateful for her caring presence. You hope that sharing your feelings will help you find some peace, even if only a little.