THE BEAUTY IN THE STRUGGLE.

Sarah woke up feeling down and defeated. She had been crying all night, and her eyes were puffy and red. "Good morning," Adam greeted her with a cup of coffee. "Not a good morning," Sarah replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What's wrong?" Adam asked, trying to hide his frustration. "What's wrong? Why don't you tell me what's right?" Sarah spat, her eyes filled with tears.

Adam felt like he was walking on eggshells, always trying to say the right thing, but never being able to. "I'm sorry, Sarah. I know it's hard," he said softly. "You have no idea how hard it is," Sarah sniffled. "I'm tired of trying and failing. I'm tired of feeling like a failure as a woman," she sobbed. "That's not true, Sarah. You're not a failure," Adam tried to comfort her.

"I am. I can't even give you a child, Adam. What kind of a wife does that make me?" Sarah cried. "You're not defined by your ability to have children, Sarah. We're in this together," Adam said, holding her hand. "It doesn't feel like it. I feel like I'm on my own," Sarah said, pulling her hand away.

Adam knew he had to do something. He couldn't stand to see his wife suffer like this, and he didn't want to lose her to their pain. As a surprise, he made an appointment at the fertility clinic for that day. When he told Sarah, she didn't react with joy like he had hoped. Instead, she froze, and a look of fear crossed her face.

"I don't know if I can take another disappointment," Sarah said, her voice trembling. "I know, Sarah. But we have to try," Adam said, holding her close. They drove to the clinic in silence, the same heaviness weighing on them.

The clinic was an overwhelming experience for Sarah and Adam. They were bombarded with medical terms and procedures which only added to their anxiety. Sarah barely managed to get through her appointment. The thought of another needle or test caused her to panic internally. However, through this all, Adam stood by her . He was the calm voice of reason reassuring her that everything would be okay, that they were in this together, no matter the outcome.

Finally, the consultation was done and the doctor gave them the results. It was bleak, the chances of conception were minimal. Sarah felt like her entire life had come crashing down, like her body had betrayed her. She started to cry, and one look at her and Adam was moved to tears too. It was a defining moment in their life as Adam stood, holding Sarah as they both shared the pool of tears flowing down their faces. They stayed inside the clinic for a few moments more, softly reassuring each other, before walking slowly out of the building.

They stepped outside and walked to the parking lot. The grey clouds above them started to give way to a golden evening sky. They both stopped, holding each other tight, catching their collective sobs , and the view before them. They looked out towards the Golden Gate Bridge, a place where Adam had proposed to Sarah six years ago . The view of the bridge was breathtaking, the sun casting a warm orange glow unto the waters beneath it.

Sarah and Adam, were both crying as they held each other, fully realizing the pain, the emotions, that they had both been holding onto for so long. They saw the beauty of life in front of them, the beauty of the sunset, the beauty of the bridge, and they realized, that despite their challenges, they had each other.

In the moments that followed, Sarah held Adam as he rested his cheek on the top of her head, his tears falling on her skin. “We’ll get through this, together,” Sarah whispered, craning her neck up towards Adam and wiping his tears away .

Adam nodded and they both stood there, holding each other. The love they both held for one another was unmistakable, it was evident that the love they carried in their hearts was strong enough to overcome their obstacles. They felt the promise of the love and support they shared.

After a few moments of silence, Sarah spoke up, "Thank you for doing this today, Adam. For being here for me." Adam tightened his hug around her. "Of course, Sarah. I love you, and I'm here for you."

They both understood the heavy weight of childlessness on their marriage, but in that moment, as they held each other, they knew that they still had each other. That the love they shared was worth more than having a child they both desired.