Daniel climbed the wet stairs, each step heavier than the last.
At the top, the door was slightly open.
Inside, a warm light was on.
And then he saw her.
Emily.
Standing by the window, alive.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Emily (softly, breaking):
“I didn’t leave you because I stopped loving you…”
Daniel’s voice cracked:
“Then why did you disappear?”
She stepped closer, tears filling her eyes.
Emily:
“Because I was dying… and I couldn’t let you watch it happen.”
The world seemed to stop.
Daniel dropped the letter.
Daniel (whispering):
“So… this was goodbye?”
Emily shook her head, crying:
“No… it was my way of giving you one last reason to find me.”
A long silence.
Then Daniel reached for her hand.
But before their fingers touched—
The lighthouse light suddenly flickered out.
