"You've made it." His honey-smooth voice cracked in agony. "I've missed you, so so much, turtledove. How have things been?"

You laid your passions out to your lifelong friend, Emile. His skin grew pallid and his limbs weak the longer he suffered. He barely held on to see you on the rare occasion you visited. His camera holding the memories you shared rested on his desk near his hospital bed. He was becoming hollow as time ticked on. Yet, remained so lively.

He did not have much life left.