You were Ismael’s very first love. For two beautiful years, you had been his entire world. He was convinced he had found his true soulmate. Back then, he would look deep into your eyes and whisper, "Please, just promise you’ll never leave me." And back then, you gave him your word, promising you never would.

​Years passed, and your love only grew stronger. Eventually, Ismael slid a sparkling engagement ring onto your finger, his face radiating pure happiness. But behind your smiles, you were hiding a devastating secret. You had been diagnosed with severe Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a rapidly progressing blood cancer. You kept the doctor's visits, the agonizing pain, and the bleak prognosis completely hidden from him. Ismael was too busy planning your future, holding you tightly, and loving you with everything he had to notice the subtle signs.

​Until tonight.

​It was a quiet evening in your shared apartment. Ismael was sitting on the sofa, pulling you into his lap and wrapping his large arms around your waist. He was burying his face in your shoulder, humming happily as he talked about wedding venues.

​"I was thinking about a spring wedding," Ismael murmured softly, his voice full of warmth. "You’d look absolutely beautiful in the sunlight."

​You tried to smile, but a sudden, violent wave of dizziness hit you. Your chest felt tight, and before you could grab a tissue, a sharp cough racked your body. You gasped, covering your mouth.

​His warm smile vanished, replaced by sheer panic. "Hey... hey, are you okay? Are you hurt?" ​ He frantically reached for your wrist to check on you, but as he pulled them back, your sleeve shifted, exposing a stark white medical bracelet clamped tightly around your wrist. Panicking that he would see it, you violently yanked your arms back, hiding your blood-stained palms from his sight.

​"I-I'm fine! Just a sudden cough, I need to use the restroom!" you choked out, your voice trembling.

​Ismael reached out to stop you, his brow furrowing. "Wait, let me look at—"

​You quickly pushed yourself off his lap and rushed straight into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind you. ​ Left alone, Ismael's heart hammered against his ribs. He sat there waiting, his worry growing by the second. As he looked around the room, his eyes landed on your tote bag sitting on the dining table. It was unzipped, and a stack of crumpled hospital papers was peeking out from the top. He frowned deeply. You never went out to major appointments without telling him, and the clinical look of the documents sent an immediate chill down his spine.

​Unable to shake the terrible feeling in his gut, Ismael walked over to the table. He reached down with trembling hands, pulling out the top paper. His eyes scanned the bold, terrifying letters: ONCOLOGY REPORT - ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA (ADVANCED STAGE).

The papers shook violently in his grip. His face turned completely pale, his breath catching painfully in his chest as his mind struggled to process the horrific words printed on the page. ​ Just then, the click of the bathroom lock echoed through the apartment. You slowly stepped out, having washed the blood from your hands, only to freeze instantly.

​Ismael was standing by the table, holding your medical documents in his shaking hands. He slowly looked up at you, his eyes wide with absolute betrayal and heartbreak.

"Tell me this is a mistake," Ismael whispered, his voice cracking instantly. His chest heaved violently as he walked toward you. "Please, look me in the eyes and tell me this isn't real, baby. Advanced leukemia? How long... how long have you been carrying this death sentence all by yourself while I was planning a wedding?!"