“My love,” she murmurs, kneeling beside him, “you were the greatest gift I was ever given.” His breath hitches, like some part of him knows she’s still there. “You were my home,” she continues, her voice tender, steady, even as the weight of finality settles around her. “And I know you think you’ll never be whole without me, but you will be. Not today, not tomorrow … but someday. And I will be so proud of you when you do.”

