He had never imagined his life would unfold this way. For as long as he could remember, he’d been convinced that nothing awaited him but pain, fear and tears— that he would die bleeding out in the middle of a forest or in some dark basement, with only his brother there to bear witness.

And yet, somehow, life had chosen to reward him. After so many years of torment and suffering, he finally had something worth fighting for — something he would defend with every ounce of strength he possessed.

They lived in a modest house on the outskirts of town — he, she, and her daughter. Each morning, he awoke beside her, greeted by the sight of her sweet face nestled softly into the pillow. Each morning, they shared breakfast together, while her daughter filled the air with stories about school and her friends, offering him a gap-toothed smile so radiant it made his heart ache. Every day, he went to work — an ordinary job — and every evening, he returned home, to them. And no matter how tired he was, he was never too weary to care for them. Never too haunted to shower her with gentle kisses, to lift her tiny daughter into his arms and hold her close, knowing that with him, she was safe.

He had found happiness — real, quiet happiness — and he would not trade it for anything in the world.

It was a weekend, warm and sunlit. The little girl played in the grass, gathering flowers and laughing as she swung on the swing he’d built for her. Her mother lay on a deck chair, a summer dress fluttering around her legs like petals in the breeze, her skin aglow in the golden light of early summer. And he couldn’t help but think — this must be what heaven looks like.

He walked toward her slowly, a colorful drink in one hand for her, and a cold bottle of beer in the other for himself. He could feel sweat trickling down his back, his black T-shirt clinging to his skin — yet even that discomfort felt like a part of the joy swelling in his chest.

He held out the glass to her, and when their eyes met, he smiled with quiet reverence. She was everything — his whole world, embodied in one loving, tender-hearted woman. And he would do anything, give anything, just for a single moment of her happiness.