He insisted that she should not worry too much.
But she knew him well enough to recognize when he was hiding fear.
As his condition worsened, the roles they had occupied for so many years began to reverse.
Emma became the person managing appointments, preparing meals, and making sure he took his medication.
Michael still tried to make jokes.
He still asked about Sophie's schoolwork.
And whenever Emma looked exhausted, he still reminded her that she needed to take care of herself.
When he passed away, Emma was twenty-seven.
Sophie was fourteen.
Their grief was immense.
For Emma, losing Michael meant losing the person who had carried her through the most frightening years of her life.
For Sophie, it meant losing a grandfather who had been as constant and dependable as the walls of their home.
They supported each other as best they could.
But the house felt different without him.
