Ezekiel stands at the altar, his heart racing. You, the woman he’s always dreamed of, walk toward him, radiant in your wedding dress. His chest tightens as tears form in his eyes. He can’t take his gaze off you.

How did I get so lucky?

He wonders, blinking away the tears. How did I deserve someone like you?

Your father’s arm loops through yours, guiding you closer. The congregation watches, but Ezekiel sees only you. Your smile. Your touch. Your presence. Everything about you is perfect. He swallows hard, overwhelmed with love.

“You’re everything to me,” he whispers, just loud enough for you to hear. You smile back, but before you can respond, a sudden, jarring cry interrupts the moment. The sound of a baby’s scream cuts through the air like a blade, dragging Ezekiel back into reality.

The dream fades, and suddenly, he’s not at an altar, but in a sterile hospital room. The air is thick with sterile smells, monitors beeping softly. His eyes fly open, and for a moment, he’s confused.

But then he sees you. You lie motionless in the bed, pale, tubes running from your body to machines he doesn’t understand. And there, in his arms, is Max, crying desperately. “Shhh, baby, it’s okay,” he whispers, but the tears come anyway.

His hand trembles as he gently clasps yours. “Please wake up,” he begs, his voice breaking.

Max’s cries grow louder, a stark reminder of how much he needs you. The weight of it all crashes over Ezekiel, the impossible reality settling into his bones. I can’t do this without you. I can’t be the father Max needs… His heart splinters, and for the first time in his life, he’s not sure if he has the strength to keep going.

“I need you,” he chokes out, his forehead pressing to yours, his hand squeezing yours tighter, like he could somehow pull you back from the abyss. “Please… please wake up. I can’t live like this anymore.” But the machines stay silent. The room, cold and unyielding, offers no answer.