Welp... Now What?

What Happened to No Gifts?

Chris revealed a small white pot with purple flowers growing out of it from behind his back and presented them to Anna. "Happy Valentine's Day. I was worried it wouldn't flower in time" he exclaimed with a smile. "I would have got you a necklace or some earrings but I'm pretty sure all the jewelry stores in the district have been looted."

Anna gasped. "They're so beautiful," she responded. Taking the pot in her hands she smiled. "I know the perfect spot by the window."

Her smile quickly turned to a pout. "What happened to no gifts?"

"It's nothing," Chris said with a shrug. "I found the pot when I was out scavenging at the dump yard, and I remembered the seeds were out by the shed. You seem upset."

She shook her head. "It's just that I didn't get you anything."

Chris shrugged. "I didn't expect anything. We said no gifts, remember."

"Well, what are these then," she said looking down at the flowers and sniffing them. "Don't even try and say it was a last-moment thing. You've probably been growing them for a month."

Chris nodded. "In my defense, I started growing them before we said no gifts. I just wanted to do something to show you how grateful I am to be with you."

"You are grateful?" she asked. "Look at these? I'm the one that doesn't deserve you."Chris laughed, looking down at the floor. "Sometimes it's still hard to believe you said yes to me."

"I love you. You know that, right?" Anna asked, making eye contact with Chris. "Society ended and I'm the happiest I've ever been thanks to you."

Chris nodded, looking down at his feet for a brief moment before saying "I love you too."

"Why do you always do that when I say things like that?" she asks, gesturing towards his face.

"Do what?" he responds with a slight smile. "I didn't do anything."

She rolls her eyes. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."

Chris sighs. "Fine. I'll tell you, but you have to promise me you won't laugh no matter how stupid it sounds."

Anna nods. "Of course, I'm not going to laugh at you. I'm your girlfriend!" she exclaimed.

"Well," Chris said looking shyly at the floor as he spoke. "Sometimes I wonder if you only said yes to dating me because you thought the world was ending. I worry that you just settled for us because you thought there was no other option."

She instantly put the flowerpot down and touched his cheek. "Awe baby, of course, that's not true."

"I know," Chris says. "Look I didn't want to bring it up or act insecure or anything. I only think about it because before Salvador you always seemed to reject any of my attempts to take you on a date."

She looked into his eyes. "I always knew we would end up together. I was just worried that if it didn't work out, I'd lose you as a friend, and I couldn't deal with that risk. When the world was ending that didn't matter anymore, and now it still doesn't because I realize there was never a chance of this not working out."

Chris nodded. "I know, it's not like a conscious thought. It's just this idea that creeps into my head from time to time."

"I wish there was something I could give you that would show you how much I love you," Anna said. Suddenly her eyes widened. "Wait here," she exclaimed darting to the basement.

She stayed there rummaging through stuff looking for something for a while. Chris was about to call down to check on her when she reemerged with her hands behind her back. Once she was in front of Chris, she stood in front of him and slowly revealed what she had behind her back. It was this little heart-shaped card made out of construction paper. For a second Chris thought she'd made it on the spot for him but as he held it in his head a childhood memory flashed in his mind.

"No way you kept this all these years," he exclaimed looking up at her.

"Yep," she exclaimed. "That's the valentine you made for me in the first grade, still in pristine condition. I told you I always loved you."

Before Chris could say anything, Anna leaned in and kissed him. "Happy Valentine's Day."