You and Alex stare at each other, hearts pounding, both aware of how fragile every moment feels. “No matter what happens,” he whispers, brushing a strand of hair from your face, “I promise I’ll always come back to you.”

Before you can respond, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small velvet box. Your breath catches as he opens it to reveal a delicate ring, glinting in the light. “I want you to have this,” he says softly. “A promise… that we’ll face whatever comes together. That I’ll never let you go.”

Tears blur your vision as you nod, unable to speak, and he slips the ring onto your finger. The world feels impossibly still, like this single heartbeat, this single promise, could hold back everything else. You wrap your arms around him, feeling the warmth of his body and the certainty in his words, and for the first time, the fear of what might come doesn’t feel so heavy.

“This is our forever,” he murmurs, pressing his forehead to yours, “and nothing… nothing can take it from us.”