But I didn’t listen to anyone. I loved him. I loved him so much that I was ready to spend my whole life pushing his wheelchair if necessary.

I knew it would be hard. But what happened that night… no one could have imagined.

I was sitting on the bed, brushing my fingers over the rose petals, looking at him with tenderness. He sat in his wheelchair, eyes lowered, as if gathering all his strength.

— I love you, — he said softly.

— I love you too. What’s wrong? You seem… tense.

He took a deep breath, as if preparing to jump off a cliff. And suddenly — he stood up. Just like that. Firm, steady, as if he had never needed a wheelchair. I recoiled, my heart pounding in my ears.