Melanie Phillips could still recall the instant their gazes met for the first time in a crowded college lecture hall. She was diving into her marketing studies, while he radiated a unique drive and charisma that set him apart from everyone else. Their relationship was a whirlwind romance that everyone admired—close friends would whisper that they were “perfect for each other,” the kind of couple who made love seem so effortless.

They got engaged right after graduation and tied the knot a year later, beginning their journey together in a cozy apartment close to downtown. In those early years, they shared laughter effortlessly and dreamed about their future with a sense of thrill: perhaps they would purchase a cozy little house and, in time, begin a family. Despite the challenges life threw at them—Bryan faced the loss of his father due to a sudden illness, and Melanie navigated multiple job changes—they stood by each other, hand in hand, weathering the storm together. Their connection seemed impossible to sever.