Ah, Valentine’s Day. An event for love, romance and same-day flower deliveries. There are many pleasant tales about fantastic 14 February experiences: candy gestures, considerate phrases, serendipitous encounters.
However generally it doesn’t go fairly to plan. Guardian readers shared tales of their worst Valentine’s Day with us. In case you’re feeling down this 14 February, simply assume – not less than you’re not courting somebody wished by Interpol.
Solutions have been edited and condensed for readability.
The misplaced fingertip
Twenty years in the past, my husband, 1.5-year-old son and I have been dwelling in California. My husband, very sweetly, determined to make me a Valentine’s Day lunch, together with a ham sandwich. With a flourish of the knife, he opened the plastic packaging of the ham. He additionally took off the highest of one in every of his fingers. There was a whole lot of blood, so I ran round discovering issues to wrap the hand in. It was clear he needed to go to [the emergency department], however the place was the highest of the finger? We weren’t fast sufficient, and the canine ate it. The remainder of the day was spent on the hospital.
Fiona, 58, British Columbia
Fourth time’s the attraction
One Valentine’s Day in school, I used to be dumped over Zoom by my long-distance boyfriend. On the decision, I opened the package deal he’d despatched me. It was a courting recommendation e book.
Three years later, a special companion and I had booked a visit over Valentine’s Day. The day we have been meant to go away, he advised me he had cancelled the reservation. Once I requested what he wished to do as a substitute, he stated: “Cease seeing one another.”
Two Valentine’s Days later, my long-distance girlfriend and I have been presupposed to name one another and prepare dinner a meal on the identical time. I received a shock supply of ice-cream and she or he cancelled our name. We broke up.
Ultimately, my spouse broke my curse, and we now have loved many uneventful Valentine’s Days collectively since.
Elyse, 28, Missouri
The one which received cancelled
In second grade, the instructor received mad at us as a result of we have been so excited to move our Valentine’s playing cards to one another. She advised us that Valentine’s Day was cancelled, and she or he proceeded to tear up all our playing cards in entrance of the category. Very traumatic for seven-year-olds.
Michael, 75, Arizona
A wholesome reward
On our first Valentine’s after six months of courting, he gave me a field of protein bars and a pizza cutter.
JM, Illinois
‘Is that this from you?’
On Valentine’s Day 2021, I used to be sat with my husband of almost 20 years – my companion and father of my youngsters – watching David Niven in A Matter of Life and Loss of life. I had simply discovered a heart-shaped crisp within the bowl and was feeding it to him lovingly when his telephone pinged. Up got here a picture of a Valentine’s card and the phrases: “Is that this from you?” He had despatched a Valentine’s card to his 23-year-old colleague, a younger lady who had not been born after we first received collectively. The day didn’t finish properly. Our divorce will probably be finalized within the subsequent few months.
Sarah, 54, Lytham St Annes
Questioned by Interpol
I had been courting a colleague barely senior to me, and fairly a bit older. He invited me to Madrid for Valentine’s weekend, and I booked a stunning lodge. We flew in on Friday night. On Saturday, whereas sightseeing, we have been stopped by two members of Interpol. They questioned my companion at size and demanded to see his passport. My Spanish was rudimentary at finest, however from what I may glean, they thought he was a drug seller. Later that afternoon, we went to a big artwork exhibition, and realized we have been being adopted.
That night, we went to dinner and I made a remark about possibly introducing him to my mother and father. However we had a heated dialogue which continued by way of the next morning on to the airplane, the place we lastly cut up up.
It turned out he had a second driver’s license with a special title in his pockets, so who is aware of who he even was.
Nameless
Powerful love
Again within the Nineteen Seventies, I used to be working in a public library – my first job after leaving library faculty. I assumed I knew all of it, and was not widespread with my fellow employees. There was one lady I relatively fancied, and on Valentine’s Day she referred to as me and stated she wish to go on a lunch date with me. In keen anticipation, I waited on the library steps for her to show up. And waited. And waited. I stored seeing my colleagues within the background laughing. Ultimately I noticed they’d organized this “date” to carry me down a peg.
Iain, 77, Guisborough
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The ex-factor
Ten years in the past, me and my then companion have been dwelling in separate international locations, and I used to be nearly to maneuver to hers. I had the romantic thought of flying over on Valentine’s Day, which fell on a Friday, to shock her. I waited on the garden exterior the hospital the place she labored, dreaming of her delight. She was shocked, however not in a great way. She made some excuse about being drained after her shift, which was comprehensible. I felt like a douche. Later that day, when her temper was nonetheless bizarre, I pressed her and came upon that she had organized for her ex-girlfriend to come back and keep along with her that weekend.
Nameless
Nudie noodles
My companion stated he was going to prepare dinner a meal for me: a starter and a pudding, the works! I arrived residence from work round 6.30pm, and was shocked to see the kitchen precisely as I left it. No signal of buying or cooking. And no signal of him.
I went upstairs and into our bed room, and he was sat up bare in mattress, consuming a pot noodle. He stated there was one within the kitchen for me. Apparently, on his strategy to do the buying, he had met up with a pal, and so they spent the day within the pub.
Rachel, 63, Blackford
That’s not the bathroom …
My then boyfriend and I have been three years into our relationship and dwelling collectively. His favourite band was taking part in within the metropolis on Valentine’s evening. Relatively than keep in with me or get me a ticket too, he went to see the live performance and left me at residence alone.
I loved the peace and quiet. That’s, till I woke as much as discover him drunkenly urinating within the soiled garments hamper within the nook of the room. I marched him off to sleep on the sofa. He didn’t bear in mind a factor the subsequent morning. That was our final Valentine’s Day collectively.
Nameless
There goes the stripper pole
I’ve ended up within the ER on Valentine’s Day twice to this point. The primary time, I used to be at a good friend’s home attending a singles-only get together. This good friend had a stripper pole mounted in her front room. At one level, I swung round it on my strategy to the kitchen for an additional drink. I didn’t a lot swing as proceed straight alongside, with the pole in tow. I hit my head on the nook of the espresso desk, and ripped my ear in half.
The second time, I used to be in a long-distance relationship and was trying to make use of a type of mould kits so I may ship her a replica of my privates. I used to be bare, apart from a hoop round my elements to maintain every part agency. I used to be utilizing an immersion blender to combine the mould materials. It thickened too quick and jammed the blender. I uncared for to unplug the blender earlier than clearing the blade with my thumb. I managed to wrap my hand in a towel, pull some garments on, and have my roomie take me to the hospital for stitches. I didn’t notice till after I received residence that I nonetheless had the ring on.
Will, California
All’s properly that ends properly
My husband and I have been making ready to exit to dinner. Whereas he was within the bathe, I went to place a candy Valentine’s Day card on his desk. On his pc was an electronic mail he had simply despatched to a lady he was having an affair with. When confronted about it, he lied. That was the top of Valentine’s Day, and the top of our marriage.
I’m now remarried to a a lot nicer, youthful, extra good-looking and extra nurturing man, so each Valentine’s Day, I need to ship my ex a thanks observe!
Margaret, 55, California
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