He could not speak a single word, could not call out for help or express discomfort.
He could not move his limbs, could not feed himself or adjust his position when his body ached.
He could only look with those haunting, intelligent eyes, and breathe, and exist in a state of complete dependence on others.
Before Daniel and Lucía were married, back when they were still in that honeymoon phase of their relationship where everything felt possible and uncomplicated, Daniel had sat her down for a serious conversation. They were having coffee at their favorite café downtown, and he’d reached across the table to take her hand with an expression of such gravity that it had frightened her.
“Lucía… I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone,” he’d begun, his thumb tracing circles on the back of her hand. “But before we take this next step, before we
