502: THE STRENGTH I NEED

LUKE'S POV The nurse's hand dropped from mine, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she said, a hint of apology in her voice. "I was just trying to offer comfort." I nodded, still staring down at my hands. "I understand. Thank you." There was a moment of silence, the air thick with unspoken words. Then the nurse spoke up again, her tone gentler than before. "If you don't mind me asking, how long have you and Ariel been together?" I looked at her in curiosity. "Why are you asking?" The nurse smiled, her expression reassuring. "I'm asking because sometimes, knowing the depth of a relationship can help. It can give you strength, something to hold on to. And I'm curious. You seem to be very much in love with your wife." She paused, glancing around the hospital room. "And in a place like this, where people come in and out of life and death on a daily basis, love can be a powerful thing. It can be a lifeline." "I like the way you talk," I