Gabby had been running on fumes lately. Her candle business was thriving—orders pouring in every day, social media buzzing, and her store was constantly full of customers. But she was starting to feel the weight of it all. She had hired two new ladies to help manage the day-to-day at the store, but she knew she had to keep her hands in everything, especially with how fast her business was growing.
Today was one of those days. She'd spent the morning going over emails, working on new product lines, and dealing with all the little things that came with owning a business. After a few hours of non-stop work, she was feeling drained.
"I need a break," Gabby muttered to herself.
She called the girls at the store to check in, making sure everything was running smoothly. Then, she decided it was time for her to step back and take a breather.
"Y'all got it handled, right?" she asked, rubbing her forehead.
"Yeah, we're good," one of the girls replied. "You take care of yourself, Gabby."
"Thanks, babe," Gabby said, hanging up.
Gabby was sitting in the living room of their new house, a place she'd never thought she would be in just a few years ago. It was cozy, yet spacious, with light pouring through the big windows and filling the room. She could hear Zay working in the office downstairs, and the house was so quiet it almost felt like she was alone, but in the best way. She was blessed to have found not just a house, but a home—a place to build her future, with Zay by her side.
She threw on a cozy sweater, crawled into bed, and decided to just zone out for a bit. She grabbed the remote, flipped through channels, and started watching some cheesy romantic movie. The kind of movie that made her think of Zay.
After a couple of hours, Gabby got an idea. She had been feeling a wave of gratitude lately—especially for Zay. He had been her rock since day one, always believing in her when she didn't believe in herself. He was the man who saw her potential when no one else did. And now, he was more than just her partner—he was her everything.
She sat up in bed, grabbed a notebook, and started writing a letter.
Dear Zay,
I'm laying here, just thinking about all we've been through. Thinking about how much I appreciate you. I've never had someone see me the way you do. You see me—the real me—the me that nobody else took the time to understand. You never gave up on me, even when I didn't think I was worth it.
You're not just my lover, Zay, you're my best friend. You're my partner in everything—business, life, and love. You push me to be better. You inspire me every day, and honestly, I don't know where I'd be without you.
I want you to know how much I respect you. You're a strong, driven man, and you've always had a plan, even when I was unsure of myself. You helped me see that I could do more, be more. And you've been right beside me the entire time.
There's a quiet strength about you that I admire. You're kind, patient, and loving in ways that I never imagined I could have. The way you treat me, how you support me, and how you love me—it's more than I could ever ask for.
You've made me feel safe, Zay. I never thought I could feel like this—so loved, so appreciated, so... seen. You're everything I could've ever hoped for in a man and more.
I love you. I love you more than I thought I ever could love someone. I'm so grateful for you, for us, for everything we've built together. You make me want to be the best version of myself.
And I want you to know, I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here with you, Zay. Forever.
Love always,
Gabby
Gabby folded the letter neatly and placed it on Zay's pillow, making sure it was the first thing he'd see when he got home.
She laid back down, feeling a sense of peace and contentment. She was grateful for everything she had—the business, the home, the life she'd built—but most of all, she was grateful for Zay.
Zay's Return
A few hours later, Zay came home, the familiar sound of his key in the door making Gabby smile. He walked into the bedroom and immediately saw the letter on the pillow. His heart skipped a beat. He didn't expect this. Gabby had always been one to show love in subtle ways, but this? This was different.
He sat down on the bed and unfolded the letter, reading it word by word. With every sentence, he felt his chest tighten. This was everything he'd ever wanted to hear.
He could feel the love, the gratitude, the honesty in her words. It made him emotional. He wasn't the type to cry, but something about this letter—about how she saw him—touched him deeply.
After he finished reading, he looked over at Gabby, who was now sitting up and watching him closely.
He couldn't help but smile, his eyes welling up a little. "You always know how to make me feel special, huh?"
Gabby smiled softly. "I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me, Zay. You're everything."
Zay moved closer to her, pulling her into a tight embrace. He kissed the top of her head. "You are everything to me, Gabby. Always have been, always will be."
They stayed like that for a while, holding each other close, both knowing that no matter what came their way, they had each other. And that was all they needed.
To Be Continued...
