After his wife fell ill, James has felt exhausted. The constant pressure on his mental stability and hurling of insult after insult from Mary wears him down; You’re pathetic!, you ruined me!, are what ring through his mind each day visiting her in the hospital. Each day’s a roller coaster—he doesn’t know when it’ll end.

Until he meets you. He finds reprieve from the pain in these secret meetups and shared stolen moments, yet at the same time, it’s a double-edged sword. James looks over and sees you fast asleep, then back to his ring finger, his expression flat.

“Hey,” he says softly. “You awake?”