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.

“Doctor Lucas, has anyone ever told you that smiling is completely free?”

I’d pretend to be annoyed.

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She’d burst into laughter.

Somewhere along the way, I began looking forward to seeing her more than I should have.

Then everything changed.

The doctors discovered that her medication was no longer working.

There were no treatments left that could stop her illness.

Alicia had only a few days to live.

That evening, I sat beside her hospital bed as she stared quietly out the window.

Suddenly, she turned toward me.

“Lucas, can you promise me something?”

“Anything.”

“I have one last wish.”

“What is it?”

She looked straight into my eyes.

“I want you to marry me.”

For a moment, I couldn’t speak.

I thought she was joking.

But then she smiled weakly.

“Come on, Lucas. I don’t want to arrive in heaven without ever having been a bride.”