"And i love you".
"I love you, too."
She puts her head down on his chest. He embraces her face with his hands, holding her close and a set of imagines flashes before his mind's eye.
He sees a future, a few years down the road.
A lazy Saturday morning or so, they both have time off, sleeping in. The twins still sleeping in their rooms down the hall. They have just turned 8 years old.
He sees himself watching her, lying on her side, facing him, just waking up.
He greets her with a "good morning" and she's roling her eyes at him, that he's watching her, adoration written all over his futures.
Secretly, she would love it.
She shifts, scooting closer to him.
He turns on his back and allows her to snuggle into him. Her face, just like now, resting on his chest. This time a gold ring shining on his left ringfinger in the sunlight seeping through the curtains. Her eyes meet his, a smile appearing on both their faces. They are happy.
He thinks, they'd probably have a dog.
One that might sleep between their legs, cause Claire couldn't stand to not let him in the bed. And eventually he'd cave.
He imagines those lazy mornings and vacations they'd take, pictures date nights, for just them. How much they would love their kids. Their kids who would be caring like Claire but confident like him. Stubborn like both of them.
He can't help but smile lightly, despite knowing that they'll never have this future. It Ieaves a bitter taste on his lips.
But for a few fleeting moments he can loose himself in the possibility.
The tears on Claire's face tell him she was feeling the same regret he was. Probably similar visions of what could have been swimming around her head.
Instead of that future, he's going to die in this hospital bed.
And he just wishes he could give Claire all the happiness that she deserves.
Because he knows she would have given him more happiness than he even dares to imagine.