made it work. His physical therapy sessions continued, and while the doctors still couldn't give us a clear answer about whether he'd

to the yard. His wheelchair was angled just enough so he could see the trees swaying

ng over and sitting beside

the cushion. "Just... everything. The fut

eezing gently. "Whatever it loo

tired smile forming on his lip

th," I replied, my to

again. "I've been thinking a lot about

It was a conversation we hadn't revisited since we'd talked

ed, my voice

out at the yard. "I think I'm

xpected him to say that, not so soon. "Are you sure?"

won't be easy, but I don't want to wait anymore. I want to build a future with you,

rwhelmed by the sudden ru

han anything. And I know things have been hard, but I don't want my disability to

tight with emotion.

s been a dream of ours, but now it felt closer, more real than ever before. And yet, there was still a part of me that worried about the chal

?" I asked quietly, my vo

er be fully ready. But that's part of life, isn't it? Yo

g down my cheek. "Yeah..

-

For the first time in a long time, we had something to look forward to that wasn't overshadowed by Daniel's

ney was anyt

hearts began to wane. I could see the frustration in Daniel's eyes every time we received the news that t

up to my chest, tears streaming down my face. I hadn't meant to cry-after all, I had promised Daniel that we would

himself into the bathroom. "Amelia?" he ca

ing to compose myself. "I'm

said, his tone

by tears. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I

touch my hand. "You don't have to apo

ain. "I just... I thought it would happen by n

"We'll get through this. We just have to be patie

asked, my voice cracking. "W

rd, resting his forehead against mine. "Then we'l

ed over, and I buried my face in my hands, sobbing. Daniel didn't say anything-he just held my

-

the defining force in our lives. We focused on each other, on finding joy in the little moments we shared. And in t

ve for one another-that

h, watching the sun set through the window,

king," he said,

I asked, turni

t ado

surprised.

lways talked about having our own child, but... m

aid it, something inside me clicked. Adoption. It was a pat

ut this?" I asked,

e a father, Amelia. And if this i

nd. The more I thought about it, the more it made sens

face, the first genuine smile

eling a sense of peace wa

-

adoption agencies, filling out paperwork, and preparing our home for the possibility of welcoming a child

tchen table, reviewing more documents, Dani

his," he said, a note

zing his hand.

lled with love. "I couldn't

eplied softly. "We're in

e became parents through adoption or not-our love for each other would always be enough.

w that whatever happened, we would face it together. Bound by love,