He surprised me with tickets to the opera. Tickets to La Grande Macabre. I had never heard of it, but I was excited nonetheless. A night at the opera! Dressing up! Going out! Good music! Good story! Good times!

He arrived earlier than expected. I was still cleaning the apartment. “Just let me finish vacuuming, then I’ll stop and hang out with you,” I offered.

“No need to stop. Go ahead and finish what you need to. That way, you really will feel like Cinderella later tonight when you dress up for the ball.”

Inexplicably, it was one of the sweetest things he’s ever said…