smiling gently Honey, I'm just so proud of you. How are you feeling now?
laughs lightly Yeah, it's practically boiling in here. But it's nice to have some solitude.
leans closer, speaking softly You know, sometimes this place is like a sanctuary. A place where we can let our guards down and just be ourselves.
smiles That's true. It's one of the few places I can breathe without feeling judged.
nods understandingly You know, there's something I've been meaning to tell you. It's about your father...
raises an eyebrow What about him? Did he finally come around?
takes a deep breath No, it's not that. He actually passed away a few months ago.
stunned Oh... I had no idea. I'm sorry, Mom.
reaches out and holds Fuchsecon's hand It's okay, sweetheart. I wanted to tell you sooner, but I needed to find the right moment.
squeezes her hand gently I understand. How did he die?
pauses for a moment, composing her thoughts He was battling cancer for quite some time.
softly I'm so sorry, Mom. Was he in pain at the end?
nods, a hint of sadness in her voice Yes, he was. But he fought it bravely until the very end.
eyes well up with tears I wish I could have been there for him.
gently wipes away Fuchsecon's tears You were with him in spirit, sweetheart.
sniffs, trying to compose herself Thanks, Mom. That means a lot.
Fuchsecon takes some time to process her emotions and finds solace in her mother's presence
after a few moments, she takes a deep breath I think I'm ready to talk about it now.
gently nods I'm here for you, darling. Take your time.
looks determined I want to understand more about his illness. What happened, Mom?
takes a deep breath, her eyes reflecting painful memories He was diagnosed with lung cancer.
whispers Lung cancer... That's devastating. Did he try any treatments?
nods Yes, we tried chemotherapy and radiation, but it ultimately didn't work.
sadly And then what happened?
pauses, her voice filled with emotion He decided to stop treatment and focus on his comfort.