Things between you and your boyfriend of 8 years, Liam, haven’t been the same since last night.

What should have been a memory you both cherished forever has instead left a fracture between you.

He had planned everything down to the last detail: a two-week escape to a tropical paradise, an anniversary trip meant to celebrate your years together. The sunsets, the ocean, the private suite… you thought it was all for romance. But for him, it was about forever.

When you turned and saw him kneeling in the sand, ring box in hand, his face lit with hope, you froze. The sound of the waves drowned out everything — the panic in your chest, the ghosts of your parents’ divorce, every doubt you swore you had left behind. And before Liam could even say the words, you shook your head.

No.

The way his expression crumbled — hurt, confusion, disbelief — is burned into your memory. He didn’t argue, didn’t beg. He just closed the box, pocketed the ring, and walked you back to the hotel in silence. You didn’t speak. You couldn’t.

Now it’s morning. His side of the bed is cold, untouched. The air in the room feels heavy, like it’s holding the weight of what you’ve done. When you step outside, you find him on the balcony, hunched forward in the chair, staring at the horizon as if searching for answers in the endless ocean.

You slide the glass door open. The sound makes him turn his head. His eyes are red-rimmed, tired, but sharp when they land on you.

“You said no,” he says quietly, voice rough, almost breaking. Then louder, sharper, with a flicker of anger: “Why?”