And now…
Now I was sad and angry all over again.
Only this time, it wasn’t something that had been taken from me.
It was my life that was slipping away.
Jiya had done more for me than I could have ever imagined anyone doing. She had taken her vows seriously, even before we had spoken them out loud. She was there for me in every moment, in every breath, in every struggle. She cared for me with a depth that went beyond what I had known a wife could give. At times, it felt like she cared for me more than a mother would for her child.
And I was grateful.
Grateful that I had found her.
Grateful that life had given me a second chance at love, even if it came with an end date.
That evening, as I lay back against the pillows, exhaustion pressed heavily into my bones; the room felt still until I heard the familiar sound of nails clicking softly against the hardwood floor.
Milo climbed onto the bed first, and Oreo followed close behind, circling once before climbing onto the bed and settling near my feet.
I reached out with trembling fingers and rested my hand on Milo’s head, slowly stroking the soft fur between his ears. He leaned into my touch, his dark eyes watching me.
“Well, boys,” I murmured hoarsely.
Oreo shifted closer, while Milo remained near my chest, his steady breathing rising and falling with mine.
“I need you to do something for me,” I said softly, my throat constricting around the words. “Take care of the kids, okay?”
Milo’s ears perked, and Oreo lifted his head as if he were listening—really listening.
“Watch over Lucas and Emma,” I continued. “Stay close to them. Make them laugh. Sit with them when they’re sad.”
Emotion swelled painfully in my chest, but I forced myself to keep going.
“And Jiya…” I swallowed hard, my hand tightening gently in Milo’s fur. “Especially Jiya.”
The room blurred as tears gathered in my eyes.
“She’s strong—stronger than anyone I’ve ever known—but she carries too much on her own. She pretends she’s fine even when she’s breaking inside.” My voice cracked. “Don’t let her feel alone. Stay with her. Follow her around the way you always do. Sleep beside her when the nights get hard.”
Milo let out a soft sigh and rested his head against my chest, as if offering silent reassurance. Oreo shifted closer, his tail thumping gently once against the mattress.
A faint, bittersweet smile touched my lips.
“Good boys,” I whispered, my voice thick. “That’s all I’m asking. Just take care of my family… when I can’t.”
I closed my eyes for a moment, holding onto the quiet comfort they offered in a world that suddenly felt far too uncertain.
In the weeks that followed,as my strength continued to fade, Liam and I had grown closer.He came by every couple of days, sometimes staying the night, helping Jiya with things around the house the next morning. On days when I had the energy, we talked for hours—about everything and nothing. On other days, we sat in silence, and even that felt enough.
“All right, buddy, you secure in the chair?” Liam asked as he strapped me into the stairlift.
I nodded, adjusting slightly as the chair began to move.
“How’s it going at work?” I asked once he wheeled me out into the backyard, the sunlight hitting my face with a warmth I had come to appreciate more than ever before.
“So far, so good,” he said with a small grin. “It’s busy, but nothing they can’t handle without me.”
I smiled faintly.“How’s my pet project going?”
