David and Bruna shared a love so simple, so pure, that it seemed impervious to the passing of time. Their love was built quietly, day by day, in the small moments—the laughter over shared jokes, the gentle gestures of care, and the dreams they whispered to each other late at night. It was the kind of love that didn’t need grand gestures, because it thrived in the every day. It was the kind of love that made them feel like they had all the time in the world.
But life, as it often does, took an unexpected turn. One ordinary evening in 2018, David and Bruna were sitting on the couch, wrapped in the comforting embrace of their shared life, watching TV. The world outside felt distant as they snuggled into each other, content in their bubble. Then, without warning, everything changed.
Bruna suddenly seized. Her body convulsed violently, and David, still half-watching TV, didn’t know what was happening at first. Panic surged through him as he realized she had stopped breathing. Her heart had stopped. Time seemed to freeze. His world tilted, and he was thrust into the chaos of fear, rushing to the hospital, begging doctors to save her. But the medical team worked tirelessly, fighting to revive her, to bring her back from the edge.
And then, with a shudder, Bruna’s heartbeat returned.
But life didn’t.
When David sat beside her in the sterile hospital room, her body connected to machines that beeped in rhythm with her breathing, he realized something that would change everything. Bruna, the woman who had been the heartbeat of his life, was no longer there. She was in a body that breathed, but did not see, did not speak, did not respond. She existed, but she no longer lived in the way she had before.
Bruna had entered a vegetative state, and David was left in the quietest, most painful space he had ever known. Her eyes remained closed, her body still, as if waiting for something—waiting for time to resume, for her to wake up from the nightmare that had only just begun. But as the days stretched into weeks and weeks into months, it became clear that Bruna would never wake up in the same way again. Her mind was gone, and with it, all the promises they had made to each other about the future.
Yet, David never left her side.
He gave up everything—his work, his career, the financial security that had once supported their lives together. He sold whatever he could to cover medical bills, took on debt, and sought help from anyone who could lend a hand. The man who had once built a life full of plans and aspirations was now focused solely on caring for the woman he loved. He made the decision to stay, no matter how broken his heart became, no matter how much the world outside seemed to move forward without him.
Every day, David wakes up beside her, a body that no longer embraces him, but a soul that he believes is still with him, somewhere deep inside. He washes her, combs her hair, and talks to her as if nothing has changed. He tells her about the outside world—about the doctors, the visitors, the things she used to love. He shares the small victories of his day and the fleeting moments of hope that keep him going. Sometimes, he brushes her hand and whispers, “I love you. I’m still here. I’m waiting for you.”
Even though Bruna doesn’t respond, David believes that somewhere within her, she can feel his love. He believes that somewhere deep inside her, she knows that he’s there, that he hasn’t left her. And so, he continues. He doesn’t ask for recognition, for applause. He doesn’t seek sympathy. He is just a man who chose to stay, to keep his promise to the woman who had given him everything.