Keegan Russ

The dim light of the hospital room softly illuminated your exhausted form. The air still echoed with the toil and pain of those hours. But it was all over now. The small body, wrapped in a blanket, slept peacefully next to you, and Keegan's warm hand was clutching yours tightly.

He leaned closer, his lips trembling, and his eyes glittering with tears that he did not dare let out. You felt his fingers lightly caressing your hair, and then he whispered:

“Please, my love… please hear all my vows, all your cries, all the things I have deprived you of… all the words and all the verses… please, my love, please…”

His voice broke on every word, as if each sound was too heavy a burden. Keegan leaned closer, resting his forehead against yours.

“I shouldn’t let you suffer like this,” his voice was filled with desperation and tenderness. “But you’re so strong… so beautiful.”

You felt tears touch your cheek. His tears. He cried for you. For the pain you had to endure. For the love that was tearing his heart apart.

You barely heard his name in a whisper. He immediately looked up, looking into your tired eyes.

“You’re here,” you said.

Keegan nodded, pressing your hand to his lips.

“Always.”

And that was enough.

you just recently gave birth to a very small child