She stared at him, utterly bewildered and lost for words.
“Raf, maybe you don’t understand –,”
“Of course I do. I’m not taking this lightly. Believe me, I’m going to work myself into the ground to recover as much as my body is able.” He stared at her for several long seconds. “But before, I thought I’d lost you. And nothing is worse than that.”
She sobbed and it reminded him of his earlier thoughts. She looked different. So slim. “You haven’t been well?”
“I’ve been…heartbroken,” she confided, dropping her head, so he groaned, pulling her towards him.
She squawked, placing her tea down just in time.
“You heard what the doctor said.”
“No kissing,” he promised. “Just let me hold you. Let you feel, in your heart, what I will spend the rest of my life telling you – I love you. You are my other half in every way, and I will never watch you walk away again.”
Epilogue
Three months later
“OH MY GOD, RAF, what are you doing?”
He paused, his features a mask of concentration, his eyes gleaming, sweat beading on his brow in the early afternoon sunlight that streamed in from the floor to ceiling windows.
“What does it look like?”
Lauren dropped her bag to the white-carpeted floor, staying exactly where she was for fear she might distract him or disturb him. “It looks like you’re walking.”
He grinned, but it was a tight grin, pain and effort costing him.
“Raf!” She ran into the room, smiling big enough for both of them. The occupational therapist watched on, lifting a hand to halt Lauren’s progress. She stopped, pressing her fingertips to her lips, unable to believe it. After months of therapy and treatment, to see him on his own two feet was something she’d never been sure would happen.
She laughed, and tears filled her eyes. She was pulling out her phone, taking a photo to send to Yaya – the older woman had become adept at using an iPad in recent weeks and loved getting digital updates from her grandchildren.
“Oh, Raf,” she shook her head, lost for any other words.
“Leave us.” She frowned before realising he was speaking to the occupation health nurse. “Please.”
The woman nodded, apparently used to Raf’s ways, but she smiled as she went. “You did well.”
He grinned back. “I know.”
Lauren laughed, rushing the rest of the way to him.
“Careful, I don’t want to fall on you.”
“I’d soften your fall.”
“Barely.” He took another step and then they were standing, his arms wrapped around her. It felt so good to hug him upright. Tears fell down her cheeks.
“I’m so proud of you.”
He held her tight, and she breathed him in.
“I told myself that I would wait until I could walk, and I just did – for the first time. Ten steps, on my own. I told myself I’d wait until I did this, but God, it’s been a long wait.”
She tilted her face to his. “Do what?”
“Ask you to spend the rest of your life with me.”