The ambulance approached our tiny apartment as I stood outside waving my arms in the air. Many paramedics started exiting the vehicle, and I led them in through the door.

On the floor lay my wife, restless and in distress. Her face was turning lighter and lighter, as if pale couldn’t get any paler. Slowly I watched as she turned blue. A paramedic took me out of my gaze, as he grabbed me and removed me from my own home.

“Sir, please stay out here while we stabilize your wife.”

Everything inside of me wanted to scream and yell and fight past him back into my home to be there right alongside her. But I knew she knew that I was here, that I got her the help she needed and everything was going to be okay.

But everything was not okay.

One by one, the men who stood before me were carrying my wife out of the apartment on a stretcher. She had a mask over her mouth, helping her breathe. I could see her skin color reverting to normal, but she still looked so weak. I ran over to grab her hand, but she could barely hold on.

“I’m here baby, I’m here,” I spoke softly, reassuring her of my presence.

My fingers slipped from hers as the paramedics loaded her onto the ambulance.

“We’ll meet you at the hospital.” It was all they said before leaving me alone in the parking lot.

I quickly hopped into my car and drove off in the direction of the hospital. I was speeding past the speed limit, but it didn't even occur to me. The one thing on my mind was my wife. My beautiful, loving wife. She was a star in my eyes, the rock that held me down.

If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be half the man I am today. I couldn't stand to lose her. I needed to get to her quickly.

That's when it all turned black.

I woke up in the hospital. It wasn't in my wife’s room though. I was in my room, IVs running through my veins. I started to scream.

Two nurses quickly ran into the room. “Sir, please calm down.”

“My wife!” was all I could say. “My wife!”

Tears rolled from my eyes. I tried to rip the IV out of my arm and stand, but I was weak. The nurses held me down and that’s when a doctor walked in and approached me.

“Sir, you’ve been in an accident.”

“What?”

“You were speeding, Sir. You ran into a street light.”

“I was coming for my wife!” I yelled, “She’s here, my wife!”

The doctor looked at the nurses and pulled a chair over to my bed and sat down.

He took a deep breath and said, “Sir, your wife has passed.”

It was the second time my world went dark.

I woke up again, this time to a faint cry. It was quiet and sweet, but a cry in need. My eyes took a few seconds to flutter open completely, but when I did, I turned my head to see a baby. A baby in a rolling crib next to mine.

“Son, it’s me, I’m here.” I heard my mother’s voice.

“Mom, she’s gone.”

She took my hand and held it right. “I know, trust me, I know.” Her voice was soft as if she were in pain herself.

“But listen to me, son, she may be gone, but she has left you the greatest gift.” She took my hand and placed it on the crib beside me. “Your daughter.”

Her words replayed in my head, “Your daughter “

I turned again towards the crib and pulled it closer. Looking inside, I saw a baby girl. She was swaddled in a pink blanket. Her eyes were open and she looked right into my eyes.

My hand went from the rim of the crib to the blanket that swaddled my baby. “Mom,

please help me.”

My mom picked up the baby and unswaddled her. She placed her in my arms, and I was in instant peace.

If there wasn't a world with my wife in it, at least she left me a piece of her. A piece of her we never even knew about. A miracle even.

Her hand gripped my finger and I placed my palm against hers. I held her hand tight, and I wasn't ever letting go.