In the quiet moments, when the world seemed to pause, I would hold Eli a little closer, reminded of the fragility of trust but also of its enduring strength. We had faced the shadow of death and emerged, not unscathed, but unbroken.

Life, I realized, was not just about the moments that define us, but also about how we redefine those moments. And as Eli and I moved forward, we crafted a new narrative, one of survival, strength, and unyielding love.