Claire finally found her voice. Through tears, she told Greg that he had made the biggest mistake of his life by assuming she would abandon him when things became difficult. She reminded him of their wedding vows and the years they had spent building a family. They had survived financial struggles, sleepless nights, raising Emily, and countless unexpected challenges. Yet he believed a medical diagnosis was enough reason to decide that she no longer deserved a say in their future.

Greg lowered his head and began crying. He admitted that he had been terrified of becoming dependent on the woman he loved. He didn’t want her remembering him as someone who needed constant help. Claire squeezed his hand and told him that she had never married him because he was healthy, successful, or independent. She had married the person sitting in front of her. And that person was still the man she loved.