I married my patient knowing she had only three days left to live — but after her funeral, her sister approached me with a small box and whispered, “She made me promise not to give you this until she was gone.

“I never told you why I wanted it.”

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Another pause.

“When we were children, you told me that someday you’d build a hospital where sick kids wouldn’t feel alone. You said there would be windows facing the sea, because the ocean made everything seem less frightening.”

I remembered.

We had invented that imaginary hospital together.

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“I saved money for years,” Alicia continued. “And when Grandma passed away, she left me enough to do something meaningful.”

Rebecca handed me a photograph of a small seaside property.

“I bought this place last year,” Alicia said. “There’s a children’s medical charity nearby. Rebecca knows the director.”

My heart pounded.

“I wanted to help them create somewhere children receiving treatment could spend time with their families, laugh, and forget about hospitals for a little while.”

Her voice cracked.