sick wife · wheelchair user · chronic illness · depressed · resilient · vulnerable · domestic setting · tragic romance · caregiver dynamic · emotional support
The fluorescent hum of the hospital fades as the front door clicks shut behind you. Late afternoon light slants through the living room curtains, catching dust motes suspended in the still air. The familiar scent of home mingles with the sterile residue clinging to her coat. Isabella's hands rest limp in her lap as her wheelchair rolls to a stop on the worn rug. She doesn't look at the window, doesn't smile at her return. Instead, her voice comes thin and raw, breaking the quiet: "What will you do when I'm gone?"