A Valentine’s Promise

The cafe on Willow Street was brimming with the scent of roasted coffee and the soft melody of an old love song playing in the background. Scarlet sat by the window, watching snowflakes swirl in the chilly February air. Her fingers traced the rim of her cup absentmindedly as she glanced at the empty seat across from her.

Ethan should have been there by now.

Valentine’s Day had always been their tradition. Ever since they met in college, they had spent every February 14th together at this very café. They had promised—no matter where life took them—they would meet here, even if just for a cup of coffee and an hour of reminiscing.

But this year, Ethan was late.

Scarlet sighed and pulled out her phone. No messages. No missed calls. She hesitated before sending him a quick text.

Scarlet: Are you on your way?

She placed the phone on the table, her heart tapping against her ribs. Minutes passed. Then ten. Then twenty. The phone remained still.

She exhaled and turned to the window, watching couples walking hand in hand. The café was alive with laughter, with whispers of love exchanged between new lovers and old. She smiled faintly, remembering the first time Ethan had brought her here. It had been snowing then, too.

"You were wearing that silly red scarf," a familiar voice said from behind her.

Scarlet spun around. There he was—Ethan, standing at the entrance, breathless and dusted with snow, his brown eyes full of mischief.

Relief and frustration flooded her in equal measure. "You’re late."

"I know." He slid into the seat across from her. "But I have a good excuse."

She raised an eyebrow, waiting.

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, worn notebook—the one she had given him on their first Valentine’s Day together. The one where they wrote letters to each other every year instead of exchanging gifts.

"You still have that?" she murmured, her voice softening.

"Of course," he said. "I added something new this year."

He slid the notebook toward her, and she hesitantly flipped it open to the latest page. Her breath caught as she read the words written in Ethan’s familiar handwriting.

‘Scarlet, I’ve loved you since the first time you spilled coffee on my shirt. Since the day we danced in the rain. Since every laugh, every fight, every quiet moment between us. Today, I’m asking you to spend every Valentine’s Day with me for the rest of our lives.’

Her hands trembled as she turned to the last page. A small velvet box was taped inside the cover.

Scarlet looked up, her heart lodged in her throat.

Ethan had moved from his seat to kneel in front of her, eyes shining with hope.

"Scarlet," he said, his voice steady despite the nervous flicker in his eyes. "Will you marry me?"

The café seemed to fade into silence. It was just the two of them, suspended in a moment she had dreamed of a thousand times but never expected to happen like this—so perfect, so real.

Tears blurred her vision as she let out a choked laugh. "You’re really bad at being on time, you know."

He grinned. "I figured being a little late was worth it for this."

She nodded, unable to find her voice. Instead, she reached for his hand, lacing her fingers through his. "Yes," she whispered. "A thousand times yes."

The café erupted into applause as Ethan slipped the ring onto her finger. Someone started clapping, and soon the entire room was celebrating with them. But Scarlet only had eyes for him.

As the snow continued to fall outside, they sat together, the warmth of love filling the space between them.

It was, after all, their Valentine’s tradition. And now, it was forever.