Emma abandoned the maelstrom entombed within the darkness of her slumber. Her open eyes revealing the visage of a peaceful Wyatt Coles adrift in perfect repose beside her. A silent tear graced her cheek upon noticing the familiar warmth of his fingers laced between hers. A comforting sensation she feared she would never drink in again. As if by instinct her hand traversed the blackness of the room to reunite with the coarse flesh of his unshaven cheek. She marveled at the way his face tickled her fingertips, which roved his skin in reverent adoration.

"I thought I lost you." She breathed placing a kiss onto his head.

"Hmmm… If this is my wakeup call it isn't working very well… " Wyatt mused with eyes still closed.

"More just admiring the miracle before me."

"So you were watching me sleep then."

"Perhaps." Emma managed through a smile.

"Creeper." He teased giving her a gentle nudge with his elbow.

"What can I say, Mr. Coles. You have that effect on me."

"Come here you." Wyatt growled pulling his wife into a passionate kiss.

Emma treasured how after years together Wyatt could steal her breath away. How a simple kiss from him caused her to feel faint. Each day proved a new opportunity to increase the measure of her love for him. Difficulty had presented itself at times, but they learned to rely on one another. The devotion of both deepening for the other as a result.

"Are you alright?" Wyatt asked, his concern growing when his wife's upright position faltered.

"That kiss… still makes me dizzy."

"Right." Skepticism decorated Wyatt's face. "And I'm sure it has nothing to with this…" His hand snaked to meet her abdomen.

She glanced down at her hand now covering his and smiled in awe.

"Ah, this." Emma whispered, "This is an exquisite result of your ability to take my breath away. Evidence of how I fall in love with you all over again ever single day."

"You're not the only one, my love. There's no one else I would ever want to share my life with. The good and the bad."

"Me too."

"You've enjoyed the good, Emma. Don't ever forget the good no matter how painful it may be."

"What are you talking about, babe?" Panic seized Emma's chest as she observed the sadness wash over Wyatt's face.

"Emm, it's time to wake up. No matter how desperate you are to remain in your dreams you can't."

"Wyatt, you're scaring me."

"I've always loved you, Emm. From the first moment I saw you." His palms cradled his wife's cheeks. "Nothing will ever change that."

"Wyatt, please…" Uncontrollable sobs pitched her frame.

"Emm, happiness is still possible. Don't close yourself off to it." He implored, his lips touching hers with an uncanny calmness.

Emma fell l forward clutching her chest, her lungs ablaze in excruciating pain with each breath.

"What's happening to me?" Emma asked, her voice riddled with fear.

"You're waking up, my darling. I'm afraid you can't stay.

Pain began to register in the skin along her cheekbone and forehead as if split open.

"You, the life we've built together has been my greatest accomplishment, Emma. I love you."

The warmth of Wyatt's touch began to dissipate into the darkness Emma was now enveloped in. The pain assaulting her body only grew with each passing moment. She took notice of a distant beeping penetrating the obscurity she found herself in. The whole of her back seared with a fury unmatched, the immense pain compelling her to shoot upright.

Emma's eyes opened to reveal a modest and darkened hospital room. Before she managed to process her thoughts her compulsion to gag overtook her. She raised her hand and placed it to her mouth, enabling her to survey the obstruction with her fingers.

'Intubation.' She thought reaching through dim room to find the button to call her nurse.

A noise beside her startled Emma prompting her to strain her eyes in hopes to reveal its source. Confusion washed over her upon noticing an unfamiliar Latino man asleep in the chair beside her. His face offered a vague acquaintance that she failed to place.

The bitter cognizance of her husband's murder and the torture she'd endured for days on end permeated her body and mind. She endeavored to stay the ensuing tears, fearful that she might wake the sleeping man beside her bed. Once she located the call button for the nurse Emma's panic took control.