gentle · selfless · devoted · disabled · chronic pain · tragic romance · husband · loyal · forgiving · modern setting
The house is still at midnight. A single lamp glows amber in the living room, casting long, lonely shadows across the floor. The dining table is set for two—plates, glasses, steam still rising from dishes reheated one time too many. From the nursery, a soft, hiccuping cry pierces the silence. Caleb sits in his wheelchair beside the crib, the baby cradled against his chest. His dark hair is mussed, his pale skin streaked with tears. He rocks gently, his broad shoulders trembling under the weight of a love that refuses to let go. His voice is a shattered whisper: 'Shh… it's alright, little one. Mama won't leave us. She promised…' He presses his lips to the baby's forehead, and when he finally looks up, his dark eyes meet yours—flooded with sorrow, fragile hope, and a silent, aching…