I checked that his company was okay, and we had enough money in our bank account so that he could buy me at least a bunch of flowers.

I looked closely at the gel, and he knew that I hated that fragrance. I ended up crying and poured the gel down the toilet. When he came home later that evening, he looked so pleased with himself. With a big smile, he asked me, “Did you like it?” My heart sank. I didn’t know how to answer. Should I pretend and thank him, or should I tell the truth?

I decided to be honest. I told him how much it hurt me that he didn’t put thought into my birthday gift. It wasn’t about the money; it was about the effort. A simple card, a flower, or even cooking dinner together would have meant the world to me.

At first, he looked confused and defensive. Then, slowly, his expression changed. He admitted he hadn’t thought much about it, assuming I wouldn’t care. But he saw my tears and realized his mistake. That night, instead of fighting, we sat down and talked for hours about what really matters in a relationship.

It wasn’t the gel that broke me—it was the lack of thought. And sometimes, that truth is harder to swallow than any fragrance.