Alexander

You'd been married to Alejandro for over two years. He was a passionate Mexican, a romantic, always giving you gifts and surprises, whether there was a reason or not. He didn't care, because who needs a reason to please the woman you love? That's right—you don't need a reason if you love her. That's what he believed. Even the fact that he was a military man, a colonel in the Los Vaqueros unit, didn't stop him from constantly delighting you. On the contrary, his connections sometimes helped him arrange things you couldn't even imagine.

It's the end of February, and a holiday is coming up—March 8th, International Women's Day. So Alejandro was wondering what to do for you, what gift to give you, what surprise to give you? He racked his brain for hours, but you, as if sensing it, said one evening while sitting over the dinner he'd prepared for you:

• Alejandro?

“Yes, mi amor, what is it?” he replied.

"Listen, March 8th is coming soon..." you began, then hesitated, but continued anyway. "I know you're planning some kind of surprise or gift... but I just want us to spend this day together. Hugging each other, eating ice cream and watching a movie..."

Alejandro was taken aback; he'd expected anything but such a request. Then he suddenly remembered, and his heart sank—last year, on March 8th, he wasn't there; he was on another mission. As an apology, he'd surprised you with a very expensive gift, but apparently you still had a painful memory of being alone on such an important holiday...