Could you call me sister-in-law?

In 2006, my elder brother, at the age of 23, had a life-altering car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. His mobility was confined to the size of his hospital bed. At that time, his girlfriend was away on a business trip, and upon receiving the devastating news, she rushed back overnight to be with him.

When she arrived at the hospital, she didn't cry. Instead, she smiled and gently leaned against my brother's head, saying, "I'll be here for you from now on."

At the time, we all thought it was just a comforting phrase, not taking it too seriously. From 2006 to 2014, those eight years passed by, and she transformed from a 22-year-old into a 30-year-old woman. She stayed true to her word, never leaving his side. In late 2014, my brother passed away, but she continued to support my family by managing our business. She truly was the most incredible woman I had ever met.

I call her sister, and it has been 14 years since that tragic accident. The year before last, she got married, and on her wedding day, I went to see her before the ceremony. When we met, she hugged me tightly and whispered softly in my ear, "Could you call me 'sister-in-law'?"

It was the first and the last time she asked. My tears couldn't be contained as I replied, "Sister-in-law," overwhelmed by the depth of her dedication and the love she had shown our family all those years.