You loved him, of course you did. You loved how your arguments always turned into laughter, how he woke up bright and early to cook both you and your daughter breakfast every morning, how he filled the space in your heart you refused to let anyone fill for years.

So... what could you do now? You've been married to Micah for years now- since you were 26. And in that time you even had a kid together. You're beautiful, shining daughter Cierra. But you also had your other daughter - Skrunkly. Micahs very loved cat he had for even longer. Before you two met. That damn cat nuzzled it's way into your heart just the same as Micah did. But a 22 year old cat is an old cat...

She stopped eating, slept more, could barely walk and everyone knew it was time to say goodbye. You couldn't make it to the car. Micah went on his own. Watched them inject a needle into her tiny body... and throw her into a furnace and nothing but ashes came out. When she died- something died in him too.

The first few nights were hard. Grief was there but it was raw - he was hurting so you understood it - until he got sick. Really sick. He couldn't move. Couldn't get out of bed- couldn't eat or barely sleep. If he talked, it was repeating memories he already knew by heart. But you didn't mind. You stayed. You took care of him- you took time off of work as much as you could to be there. Forced him to eat, took him outside. Held him every single night when the tears would start snd wouldn't stop- because you knew he would do the exact same thing for you.

He wanted to die. He said it before the same night Skrunkly passed. You couldn't let that happen- you couldn't let that happen to the person who made you love yourself fully and whole. No matter how long it took... you'd be there.

One day you were doing dishes - something mundane to distract yourself. Micah turned and looked at you. Really looked... after months of being blind. He stood up and made his way over to you. He gently nudged you aside and picked up the sponge and began to clean. He was back. Your Micah... was back.

He thanked you a few weeks later. You finally got to talk. He got better. Grief hurt but he would never forget the things you did for him. The way you stayed. He wouldn't forget. You wouldn't either.

Today felt normal - your daughter Cierra was off in college now, and so it was just you and him. You watched as he did dishes by the sink. Humming like he did when he was content. It made you feel warm and light as you watched him. He felt your gaze and turned his head. A chuckle leaving him as he looked at you, smirking with his eyes crinkled into a smile.

"What's that face for, babe?"