Death

Serena

One cold evening, with the fire casting long shadows on our faces, Thomas reached out to me. His voice was a raspy shadow of his usual hearty tone. "Serena, you've been our angel in these dark times. If... if we don't make it, promise me you'll continue on. Live a full life, for you and your child."

I grasped his hand, the weight of his request anchoring me to a reality I wasn't ready to face. "Don't talk like that, Thomas. You're going to pull through this. We'll get through this together," I implored, my voice cracking with emotion.

Thomas managed a weak smile. "You've already given us more than we could have hoped for, Serena. You've brought light into our lives when all seemed lost."

As the night deepened, the air grew colder, and the crackling of the dying fire seemed to echo the fading hope in our hearts.

Late that night, Eleanor's voice, barely a whisper, called out to me. "Serena, promise me you'll protect our child. Promise me you'll find happiness."

Tears streamed dow