"You're awake," he said, his eyes crinkling with the smile she had loved for ten years. "I wanted everything to be perfect before you opened your eyes."
The gentle morning sun filtered through the curtains of their Baku apartment, landing softly on Leyla’s face. She stirred, reaching out for Elnur, but his side of the bed was already cold. For a moment, she felt a flicker of disappointment—until she smelled the rich, unmistakable aroma of freshly brewed tea and toasted çörək .
Leyla felt a tear of joy escape. In a world that was always rushing, his love was her constant anchor. She leaned into him, realizing that while it was her birthday, the true celebration was the life they had built together, hand in hand.
"Çox sağ ol, həyatım," she replied. "As long as I am with you, every day is a celebration."
She opened the card first. In his familiar, steady script, he had written: Həyat Yoldaşım, Ad Günün Mübarək Olsun.