This Valentine’s Day looked nothing like I expected.
There were no red roses delivered by my dad like there had been for as long as I can remember. There was no card waiting on the counter, no moment that felt celebratory or light. The day arrived quietly, carrying absence with it—heavy and real.
What did happen instead is that I went to Joaquín’s soccer game. I cheered louder than usual—on purpose—because my father’s favorite thing in the world was watching him play. Sitting on the sidelines, wrapped in the cold, every clap and every shout felt like something I was doing for him. It was not flowers. But it was love.
After the game, the three of us—Joaquín, Lucas, and me—went to our favorite noodle spot and shared a long, cozy lunch. Nothing fancy. Just warm bowls, familiar flavors, and the comfort of being together. We talked about the game. We laughed a little. We sat close. It felt like a small celebration—not of a holiday, but of us.
Later that night, Lucas took off work so I would not have to be alone. Even though they needed him. Even though it was Valentine’s Day and he would have made a lot of money. He refused to leave me by myself. So we stayed in. We cuddled on the couch, wrapped up in blankets, and watched our favorite shows. There were no grand gestures or reservations—just presence. And on a day that felt especially heavy, that mattered more than anything.
And then there was Panda.
Every time I cried (hence the red face in the photo above), he came right over, licking away my tears like it was his job. Like he understood that something in me was broken and needed tending. I do not know how animals know these things. I just know that he did.
When I woke up that morning, there was a rainbow outside my bedroom door.
I do not know what other people believe about signs. I only know how it made me feel. So, I placed the small stone I had given my dad to hold in moments of uncertainty this past Christmas right there in the light—the one that reads “one day at a time“. For a moment, it felt like he was close. Like he was reminding me to keep going.
Love did not arrive wrapped in red this year.
It arrived in loyalty, presence, and small acts of care. So while it was not the Valentine’s Day I expected, it was definitely the Valentine’s Day I needed. And for that I am grateful and I definitely felt the love.
