Woman discovers the reason fiancé was 'hidden away in the garage' for weeks — it moved her to tears

Some gifts hold a deeper meaning. While store-bought presents can be thoughtful, there’s something truly special about a handmade gift, especially when it’s crafted with love and intention. That’s exactly what Dom Lewis experienced when she discovered why her fiancé had been disappearing into the garage for weeks leading up to Christmas. Dom knew he had been working on something, but the details remained a mystery. When Christmas morning arrived, she finally got her answer and it brought her to tears. In a now-viral video, posted by Dom on her TikTok @futurefrenzy, Dom unwraps a package to reveal one of the most thoughtful gifts: a handmade Little Free Library.

"This is the most thoughtful Christmas gift I’ve ever received: a handmade free little library. And yes, dear reader, we are engaged. No doubts about marrying him!!" Dom wrote in the caption. For those unfamiliar, Little Free Libraries are small, publicly accessible book-sharing stations where people can take a book and leave a book in return. Unlike traditional libraries, they rely entirely on community participation, making them a meaningful way to encourage literacy and connection.

Given Dom’s love for creativity and giving back, it’s no surprise that the gift moved her to tears. As the video gained traction, many TikTok users couldn’t help but express their admiration for Dom’s fiancé and the heartfelt gesture. "To be seen is to be loved," wrote @batshitmitchell. @christopherhardi26 pointed out the depth of the gesture, saying, "That my dear was a labor of love straight from the heart." @probablythepomegranate commented, "You two deserve so much happiness. The fact that he hand did this but also you wanting a gift that’s not even for you—it’s for your community! Literal angels." @3000lizards added, "He'll get a gift every time he watches you putting books in it for everyone else."

@roxcellyr rooted for their relationship, writing, "How thoughtful and loving, praying for a lifetime of happiness and love for y’all." @lisam92 said, "All the green flags! What an incredibly beautiful and thoughtful gift." Some shared how their significant others made them their own free little library. @hellosunshine_1313 said, "My boyfriend made me one last Christmas. To be seen is to be loved." While Dom’s fiancé’s Christmas present was perfectly executed, surprises don’t always go according to plan.

In another hilariously heartwarming story, Finlay McAfee and Salma Saade, a long-distance couple, attempted to surprise each other but turned into an unintentional travel disaster. Hoping to give McAfee a sweet surprise, Saade texted his friend Adam to check if he was home in Edinburgh. He responded, "He just flew to Paris. Like, to do the same thing. Literally." Realizing their mix-up, she frantically messaged McAfee, hoping he hadn’t already landed. But he was already in Paris, while she was in Edinburgh. Resigned to their fate, McAfee took to social media to share the mishap, writing, "Anyone in Paris? Flew in to surprise Salma but she flew back to surprise me and now I’ve got 12 hours to kill." Reflecting on the now-iconic moment, Saade later posted, "Happy 4th anniversary to when I flew to Edinburgh to surprise Finlay and he flew to Paris to surprise me… and this is why we don’t do surprises anymore."

You can follow Dom Lewis (@futurefrenzy) for more arts and crafts content.