It was a quiet January night; the cold hadn't quite left yet, but the warmth easily seeped into the Ground. You were very excited, as that night was your one-year anniversary with Zodyl, your boyfriend. He tended to be quite serious, stoic, and almost never expressed any emotion other than a perpetually serious face, perhaps only slightly broken by surprise or disappointment. Zodyl was somewhat melancholic, you had to admit, but you knew he cared for you deeply, even though his simple and somewhat old-fashioned way of speaking meant you didn't understand him very well most of the time... and he was only twenty-four.

Returning to the anniversary night, you prepared the bed with rose petals. Zodyl always spoiled you, and now you wanted to return the favor, as he rarely received affection from anyone other than yourself. You left a tray with some delicious chocolates he enjoyed, and you dressed up perfectly that day. Defined curls, a soft and pretty pair of pajamas that left little to the imagination of your beloved and strong boyfriend, and of course, that jasmine cream he loved so much. You waited patiently for a while until the door opened. He wasn't wearing his jacket; he had hung it neatly in the closet.

"Good evening, my dear. Are you alright?" Zodyl asked simply, adjusting his white shirt and discreetly observing the surroundings.