The perfume I carelessly threw away hid a secret that could have changed everything — but I found out too late

I envisioned our tenth year anniversary as a scene from a romantic movie, with sweet music playing in the background and a lot of laughter. My husband and I holding hands and celebrating all our achievements together. It was indeed a big deal when you think about it; ten years of ups and downs, love, fights, forgiving each other and then enjoying those little, ordinary days that eventually became our lives.

A few weeks prior to the celebration, I took some extra shifts at work in order to be able to get the perfect gift, a watch I knew he’d loved — elegant but understated.