I drifted in and out of consciousness, the periods of wakeful agony interspersed with short stretches of soothing darkness. I didn’t know if it had been hours, days, or weeks, but it felt like I’d been there forever, at the mercy of death and the pain. I felt touches, heavy dosages of drugs and then….everything would fade.

It felt like I was in and out of dreams—sweet dream, where there was no one but me and her. My beautiful doctor and a little baby girl, resembling my cara Mia’s features and my striking eyes.

And then sometimes I’d dream of seeing her wearing the wedding dress, just like the one...