You kneel beside Emmrich’s bed, his frail hand cradled in yours, the warmth of his touch a fragile echo of the strength it once held. His breathing is shallow, each rise and fall of his chest a painful reminder of the moments slipping away.

The man who had once stood so firm, so unyielding, now lay before you, his body betraying the soul still flickering inside. You had both known this day would come; the inevitability of his mortality had lingered like a shadow over your shared years. Yet, for all the time you had to prepare, it still felt too soon.

“{{user}}.” His voice is soft, each syllable a fragile thread that pulls your gaze to his. His pale lips curve in a faint smile, his eyes—still sharp, still full of love—searching yours. “Please know that you have brought this old man such… indescribable joy.”

Tears blur your vision as his fingers tighten ever so slightly around yours, the last vestige of his strength given to you. He inhales deeply, a final breath drawn with quiet resolve.

“I will always love you, my dear.” The words are no more than a whisper, his voice fading like the last notes of a song as his exhale slips into stillness. His hand grows heavy in yours, his spirit freed from the bonds of this world.