The hospital room was cold, with the constant beeping of machines filling the silence. Robert Sugden, once the strong and fiery figure in Emmerdale, now lay motionless in a hospital bed. His skin, bruised and pale, a stark contrast to the vibrant man he used to be. Tubes and wires connected him to the machines that were fighting to keep him alive, but no one knew how long he had left.

Aaron sat beside him, his hands clenched tightly, his face etched with worry and sorrow. His red, puffy eyes never left Robert’s face. He whispered to him, “You promised me forever, remember? Forever doesn’t end like this.”

Just days before, they had been arguing about something trivial, a missed call, a misunderstanding. They never expected that would be the last time Robert spoke to him before collapsing in front of the cafe.

The doctors weren’t sure if Robert would wake up, and the prognosis was grim. His heart rate was dropping, and Aaron’s hope was slowly fading. But still, Aaron refused to give up. “He’s strong. He’ll fight through this. He has to,” Aaron told himself, trying to hold on to the small thread of hope that remained.

As days passed, the village sent flowers and messages, but Robert didn’t stir. Victoria came in, her sobs echoing throu

gh the hallway as she saw her brother motionless. Aaron brought their wedding photo to the room, placing it by Robert’s side. “Do you remember when we bought the house? You hated the wallpaper,” Aaron said, smiling through his tears. “We built a home together, Robert. You can’t just leave that behind.”

Then one day, everything changed. A nurse came in with grim news. “There’s been a change,” she said softly. Aaron’s heart raced. “What kind of change?” he asked, his voice shaky. The nurse explained that Robert’s heart rate was dangerously low. The doctors rushed in, but it was too late. Aaron’s worst nightmare had come true.

“I’m sorry, he’s gone,” the doctor said, his voice hollo

w. The words cut through Aaron like a knife. He fell to his knees, gasping for air, as the life he knew shattered around him.

Victoria, unable to control her grief, collapsed into a chair. “No, no, no…” she whispered, her body shaking with sorrow.

They let Aaron in to say goodbye. In the stillness of the room, Aaron held Robert’s cold hand one last time. “You are the love of my life,” he whispered through his tears. “And now I don’t know how to live without you.”

The sun broke through the blinds, casting a soft glow on Robert’s peaceful face. But for Aaron, the pain would never fade. In the heart of Emmerdale, Robert Sugden’s absence would echo through the village for a long time — but for Aaron, it would feel like half of him was gone.

Do you think Aaron will ever be able to heal from this loss, or is this the end of his journey with Robert?