Chapter 1

  "You're running out of time, Miss Stewart." Becky Stewart's world came crashing down around her as she sat in Dr. Thompson's office, the words "You're running out of time, Miss Stewart" hanging in the air like a challenge. 

  

  The fluorescent lights above seemed to flicker with an otherworldly intensity, casting an eerie glow on the somber expression of the doctor's face.

  

  "What do you mean?" Becky asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She tried to sound calm, but her hands were shaking in her lap, betraying her growing unease.

  

  Dr. Thompson leaned forward, his eyes filled with a deep concern. "Your heart is failing, Becky. We need to act fast. A transplant is your best option, but we need to move quickly."

  

  The words felt like a punch to the gut, leaving Becky breathless and disoriented. A transplant? That sounded like a death sentence. She thought of all the people she'd seen waiting for transplants, the long lists, the uncertainty. She didn't want to be one of them.

  

  "How long do I have?" she asked, her voice cracking.

  

  "Without a transplant, six months to a year, maybe less," Dr. Thompson replied, his voice gentle but firm. "With a transplant, your chances of survival increase significantly. But we need to find a match, and fast."

  

  Becky felt like she was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. She thought of all the things she'd planned to do, all the places she'd wanted to see. She thought of her family, her friends. She didn't want to leave them behind.

  

  As she left the doctor's office, Becky felt like she was walking through a nightmare. The bright sunlight seemed to mock her, the cheerful chatter of passersby a cruel contrast to the darkness that had settled inside her. She wandered aimlessly, her feet carrying her to a nearby park. She sat down on a bench, staring blankly at the flowers in front of her.

  

  The world around her seemed to fade away, leaving only the echoes of Dr. Thompson's words. "You're running out of time, Miss Stewart." The phrase repeated itself in her mind like a mantra, a constant reminder of her mortality.

  

  Just as she was starting to lose hope, Becky's phone rang. It was the doctor's office. "Becky, we have some good news," the nurse said. "A donor has come forward, and we'd like you to come in for the surgery as soon as possible."

  

  Becky's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the universe wasn't ready for her to die after all? She rushed back to the office, her mind racing with questions. What kind of donor was it? How long would the surgery take? What were the chances of success?

  

  As she prepared for the surgery, Becky felt a sense of hope that she hadn't felt in weeks. Maybe this was her chance to start anew, to live the life she'd always wanted.

  

  The surgery was a blur, but Becky remembered feeling a sense of relief wash over her as she woke up. The transplant had been a success, and she was going to live.

  

  As she drifted in and out of consciousness, Becky had a strange dream. She saw a man standing in front of her, his face a blur. He was speaking to her, his voice low and gentle. "Lend, make me the happiest man in the world," he said. "Marry me."

  

  Becky's mind reeled as she tried to process the dream. Who was this man, and why was he calling her Lend? She didn't know, but the memory of his words stayed with her long after she woke up.

  

  When Becky finally came to, she was groggy and disoriented. But as she looked around the hospital room, she saw a figure standing by the window. It was a man with a sharp jawline and tousled dark hair. He turned to her, and their eyes met for the first time.

  

  "Hello, Becky," he said, his voice low and gentle. "My name is William Edward. I'm so glad you're okay."

  

  Becky's heart skipped a beat as she looked at William. There was something about him that seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.

  

  As William approached her bedside, Becky noticed the concern etched on his face. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice filled with warmth.

  

  Becky hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She didn't know this man, but there was something about him that put her at ease.

  

  "I'm...I'm okay, I guess," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

  

  William smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "This might sound crazy but," he said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Do you want to get married?"

  

  The question caught Becky unaware. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at the man, weirdly. Was he drunk or something? Certainly he was very handsome but how could he just approach a stranger and ask such question? 

  

  “Obviously I would want to get married in the future, but...” She replied, “but to who?”

  

  “To me.”