Valentine’s Day had always been special to me, even when celebrated in simple ways. That year, my boyfriend surprised me with plans for dinner at one of the city’s most elegant restaurants. The setting was beautiful—soft music played in the background, candlelight reflected across the tables, and the atmosphere felt calm and romantic. We spent the evening talking, laughing, and enjoying the moment together, and for a while everything about the night felt perfectly planned.
When the bill arrived, however, the total was higher than I expected. After looking at it briefly, he suggested that we split the cost evenly. I felt a bit surprised by the suggestion since the dinner had been his idea and he had chosen the restaurant. I explained politely that I wasn’t comfortable dividing the bill in that situation, since I hadn’t been involved in planning the evening.....
