The Perfume I Threw Away Held a Secret I Discovered Too Late

I bought for my husband his dream watch for our 10th anniversary.

All he got me was cheap perfume in a plastic bottle.

I was so angry, I tossed it aside and never used it.

This was our last celebration because he passed away unexpectedly three weeks later.

The pain of losing him was unbearable—I replayed that night over and over, angry not at the gift anymore, but at myself for letting disappointment overshadow love.

I missed his laugh, his voice, even the way he reminded me to drink water when I got too busy.

Today, I was cleaning and the bottle fell.