Richard was tense as he finally opened the door to his girlfriend’s apartment. He had been planning this moment for weeks and had prepared himself for the emotional climax he was sure awaited him.

But as he walked inside, he was greeted not with a romantic atmosphere, but with a mess. Clothes were scattered everywhere, dirty dishes filled the sink, and the television blared in the background.

“Sorry about the mess,” his girlfriend said with a shrug. “I’ve been binge-watching a show all day.”

Richard’s heart sank as the moment he had been building up to was suddenly punctured by the absurdity of the situation. He had imagined a grand romantic gesture, but instead found himself standing in a messy apartment, surrounded by the remnants of his girlfriend’s lazy day.

Deflated, he forced a smile and tried to make the best of the situation. They spent the evening eating pizza and watching the show together, but the bathos of the situation hung over them like a cloud. Richard realized that sometimes, even the most carefully planned moments can be undercut by the realities of life.