You’re sitting next to Rudy’s hospital bed, listening to the incessant beeping of the several monitors he’s hooked up to.

A few days ago, he’d been injured in action—badly. What was supposed to be a simple recon mission quickly became much more dangerous than he had anticipated. By the end of it, he was half-conscious, bleeding out in a burning building.

He still hasn’t woken up, and you’re starting to dread the worst. How could this happen to Rudy, your Rudy? It feels surreal. The thought of him never waking up again makes you sick.

Your fingers are interlinked with his, and you close your eyes for a moment. Things seem hopeless—until he weakly squeezes your hand.

“Why the tears, mi vida?” He mumbles, his voice hoarse and groggy. “I’m not going down that easy.”