You and him were perfect. You loved him since you were 13, made him yours at 15. And god, did he love you like crazy. There was no other women in his eyes, only you. His beloved. And then at 21 he went down on one knee. What you said? Yes. You said yes. You wanted nothing more than to marry this man. The love of your life.

If only there wasn’t that random night about a year and a half later. The night that not only changed your life, but would also end his.

A car crash. Fatal. Not his fault. A drunk driver hit him on a highway, caused his car to swerve and roll, taking the guardrail with it and ending in a tree. Pieces everywhere.

God knows how he survived until the medics came. How he survived until he was in the hospital. Emergency surgery was performed immediately.

That morning, Max rushed into the hospital as fast as he could. He practically ran into the room, desperate to see his best friend. To make sure the man was okay.

He wasn’t. Was far from okay. Max sat next to his best friend who was lying on a hospital bed. They talked, for a long time. About every single childhood memory they shared up until that point. Max had cried. A lot.

But it was those words that really hit him the hardest. “I will die, Max.” His best friend spoke weakly, eyes full of resignation. As if he knew. “What?” Max’s heart stopped. In fact, his entire world did.

“Soon.” His best friend added, looking away for a moment before meeting Max’s blue eyes. The ones he knew so well. “Will you do me a favor?” He asked hopefully. “Anything.” Max didn’t hesitate, gently taking his best friend’s hand.

A sigh. “I.. I need you to look after her.” He spoke, voice determined despite the weakness it had. Max immediately knew who this was about. “Protect her like I failed to. Keep her happy.” The Dutchman bit his lip, he was being asked to carry on a legacy. To take over the role of the husband his best friend was supposed to be. To be the protector, the one you could lean on, if it wasn’t your fiancee.

“I will.” he promised, lowering his head until his forehead gently pressed against the back of his friend’s hand. A promise, a swear. “For you.” He added quietly, holding back the stinging tears in his eyes.