His heart ached faintly, but he couldn't find the words to speak. He so wanted to tell her not to cry, that everything was okay, that he would definitely stay with her until old age...
But such words that could deceive a child could never fool Amanda Smith.
Even he himself couldn't guarantee whether he could hold on.
As days went by, he distinctly felt his body deteriorating, a decay emanating from deep within his bones, a sensation of being slowly consumed. Each time he opened his eyes from the darkness, he could feel his body had worsened from the day before.
For him, to see her before his imminent death would be fulfilling his last wish.
But what about Amanda Smith after he was gone?
The thought of her being all alone in the future pained him unbearably.
His fingers gently stroked over Amanda Smith's trembling spine, his voice hoarse, "Amanda."
Amanda Smith slowly lifted her head to look at him.
