You never were one to celebrate your birthdays. To you, it wasn’t the most important thing in the world, so why bother? The thought of the spotlight on you made your skin crawl, and the attention felt more like a burden than a joy. Your parents always tried their best, showering you with gifts and throwing small parties, but it never resonated with you.

So why was it different when Rafe was sitting beside you on the beach? He hadn’t spoken since he picked you up from your house, and the silence felt unusual, almost heavy with anticipation. The soft sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the air, mingling with the faint rustle of palm leaves in the gentle breeze.

You glanced over at him, curiosity bubbling within you about what was going on in his mind. Rafe had always been the type to express himself through actions rather than words, but this silence felt charged, as if he were preparing for something significant.

Finally, he turned to you, a hint of nervousness flickering in his eyes. “That’s for you,” he said, his voice low and deliberate, as he handed you a small, beautifully wrapped box. Your heart raced as you accepted it, the weight of it feeling both light and significant in your hands.

With trembling fingers, you peeled back the paper, revealing a delicate, intricately designed bracelet, glimmering in the fading sunlight. It was exquisite—tiny charms that seemed to tell a story of their own dangled from the chain, each one catching the light and twinkling like the stars above. As you lifted it out, a wave of emotion washed over you, and the realization hit you: this was the only gift in your whole life that you truly loved.