My wife and I sat in the hospital waiting room. I was on the verge of tears and my wife was already crying. Our little girl, Adelaide, was complaining of pains in her little chest and all over her body. So we rushed her to the hospital. Now we're waiting to find out what was happening to our little girl.

"Mr. and Mrs. Carlile," a doctor came out and removed the surgical mask from his face.

"What's going on with Adi," I asked him.

"Which of you has Marfan's Syndrome," he asked.

"I do," I replied, "What does that have to do with my daughter?"

"She has it too," he explained, "Adelaide's heart was falling apart. Luckily we had a prosthetic heart here at the hospital that would fit her. It saved her life and she's still sleeping from the anesthetics. She is going to make a full recovery and live a good life so long as she comes in every few years until she's about seventeen to get her heart replaced to the next size up."

"Can we go see her now," my wife asked as she clung to me.

"Of course. I'm sure she'll want to see her parents when she wakes up," he replied before leading us to Adi's recovery room.

Once we entered the room, I saw my four year old daughter laying in a white hospital bed. Wires were connected to her body, monitoring her heart to make sure it doesn't stop beating. An oxygen tube was placed under her nose so she could breathe clean air so she has plenty of oxygen to get pumped in and out of her new heart. I could see the stitches that kept her chest closed, knowing she'll have a wicked scar for the rest of her life.

I never wanted this for my little girl. I wanted her to take after her mother and be better than me. Instead I share the same pain as her. My little girl was going have a limited life, a life I never wanted for her.

"She'll be okay, Austin. She has you to inspire her to be stronger than this," my wife tried to lift my spirits.

"I wanted her to not be like me, baby. I didn't want her to have this," I finally broke down and cried.

"Austin," she cooed, "You and I will love her more than we ever have. We're going to make sure she lives the best life ever."

"But it won't be the same," I sobbed.

After a couple hours, Adi finally woke up. She smiled at me and her mother. I could tell she was happy to have us with her when she woke up. I smiled at her, leaning over to kiss her forehead like I always did to show her how much I loved her.

"The pain is gone, Daddy," Adi smiled as she pointed at her scar.

"Yeah, the pain is gone, princess," I smiled as I fought back my tears.

"Don't be sad, Daddy," Adi cooed.

"I'm not sad sweetheart. I worried and scared for you," I told her, "I never told you about my mommy."

"What was she like, Daddy," Adi asked.

"She was the greatest mom in the world. She had a bad heart like you and me. But she fought it to make sure I was happy and that I knew she loved me," I told her, "But her heart grew too weak and she went to sleep forever."

"Grammy Carlile no mores," she asked.

"She still lives on, Adi," I told her, "She's in my heart and yours. She's also up there in the clouds watching over us."

"Like an angel," she asked.

"Yes, she's an angel now Adi. And I know she loves you," I told her.

"I love her too," she smiled.

"And I love you, baby girl," I kissed her little forehead, "I always will."

"I love you too, Daddy," Adi sat up a little more and kissed my cheek.

Notes

Cute little one-shot to tug on the heartstrings. If you guys want, I can write one-shots by request if you'd like. Send me anything and I'll give it a shot. :)