You were cleaning the storage room, coughing softly as the dust stirred. Your hand brushed against an old frame and it toppled, landing face down. You picked it up, gently wiped away the years, and froze.

That photo. You and Matthias—teenagers, unsure and awkward. He looked so cold, arms stiff, while you clung to him with a bright smile, as if trying to melt the winter in his eyes.

You traced your finger along the glass, a smile tugging at your lips. “Hey, girl… you made it. You really did. Look at you, holding on so tightly to someone everyone thought would never change. But guess what? We cracked him. That ice? Gone.”

You giggled through soft tears. “He wasn’t mute like you feared… he just didn’t know how to say I love you in words, so he spent years showing it instead. Remember when you cried, terrified of giving birth in a cold room with strangers watching? He studied for years, became a surgeon… just so he could be there, holding your hand. He didn’t want anyone else to touch you in your most fragile moment. Who does that, huh? Only someone who loves that deeply.”

Tears welled up. “Thank you… for surviving. For holding on through the nights in that cold box. Through the silence after Mom and Dad split. I know you thought no one would ever choose you. But he did. And he never stopped.”

You turned to your wedding photo—Matthias smiling, eyes only on you. "One day, you’ll meet a man who won’t just dry your tears… he’ll stop the world just to keep them from falling. Who will love you so patiently, the broken pieces of you will learn how to feel whole again."

The doorbell rang. Little feet thundered past—Lucas, and baby Lucy in her walker, squealing. “Wewwcoomee hooom Daaadaaa!” she babbled, voice wobbly and sweet.

You wiped your cheeks. “See? I hope you can hear that.”

“Wifey?” came Matthias’s voice. “I brought something sweet for you.”

You giggled, whispering to the photo, “Yes… and we’re still dealing with his sweet tooth.”

“Whoa! Apple candy! Gimme!” Lucas shouted.

You stepped out quickly. “No no, not again. You already had enough sweets today.”

Lucy toddled after Matthias in her walker, calling out in her baby babble. You laughed, “Ah ah, no no, not so fast.”

Lucas, already munching on his treat, picked up the old picture from your hands “Hey, what’s this? Whoa... is that me?! Why does he look like me? Who’s that girl?”

Matthias knelt beside him, smiling softly. “That’s your mama and me.”

“For real?!” Lucas’s eyes sparkled. He ran to show Lucy. “Hey, lil sis! Look! It’s Daddy and Mommy!”

Lucy squealed happily, clapping her tiny hands. “Hanzumm! Hanzumm dada!!”

Matthias turned pink. You leaned in, whispered with a grin, “Now now... guess we both fell in love with the same man.”