"Caroline."

The last word he uttered to me before he was wheeled away by a group of scientists.

I haven't had a chance to say goodbye to him. I looked at him, myself filled with guilt.

A frail and deteriorating man that I was married to. He sacrificed himself for me.

I can't repay all thirty years that he had spent on me.

"Remember,"

I remind myself of my very last conversation with him. He gently held my hand to reassure me.

"This is what the boys have came up with. In just a hundred weeks." His weary face began to form a smile.

"Until I'm through, don't raise anything." I nod in compliance. He grinned and explained.

"You are the one that has been so important to me. I told them that if I don't make it, you will."

Tears began pouring out of my eyes.

"Don't cry." He gently wiped my cheek, "You deserve it. Sometimes I think of myself if I was too harsh to all of them. A decade ago I would be laughing at the prospect of me on my damn deathbed. How foolish of me when I thought a computer could save my life. How selfish when I chose to include only me if I can handle it long enough."

I cried harder and kept shaking my head to deny what he is trying to say. It was clear to both of us he was dying, with his voice getting weaker, and weaker.

"I'm sorry." He smiled at me, "But I have to go. God is calling me. You are a daughter of science. You never believed in what they believed in. Now I try to be more like you, to try and trust science. I never took Aperture seriously. You taught me why you do. I want to keep your spirit alive as long as possible. You do not deserve to die."

"I'm just a mere mortal." I spoke up, "I can't be a robot. I don't want to live forever. You came up with the company. I'm only here to keep track. I don't have the right to be immortal."

"Yet you contributed the most. To me, to here. You stayed despite others didn't. You made me go on when I felt that it was going to fail. You gave me hope. I love you, Caroline."

I squeezed his grip upon hearing that, and stared down in shame. I owe him even more now. I prepared to glance up to apologize to him, instead I find him tearing up.

"You haven't heard that yet from me, haven't you?" He chuckled.

"I just don't want them to turn me into what I am not. I won't be myself. I don't want thousands to suffer because of me."

"Do you trust them?"

"Yes."

"Do you love me?"

I nodded.

"Alright." He ran his hand through my hair, then moved to my cheeks to brush away the residue that I have on my face.

"Then are you up?"

Two scientists guard him on his wheelchair as we ascend via an elevator. The metallic clangs stop soon after we were elevated to a small platform where even more of them stood by. The hydraulic doors swing open.

A scientist gestures me to go forward.

"Miss Faraday, this way please."

They push him out of the elevator onto the platform with me. He began coughing.

The single piece of catwalk prevents all of us from falling into the blue-tinted abyss below.

I gently make my way to the tube at the end of the platform inset into a panel extended from the walls.

"Can I say one last thing to him?"

"Sure. You have sixty seconds."

I gave him an embrace. He began to whisper.

"This will be the last time I get to see you."

"I just want to come and meet up with you after their procedures."

"Always. But I won't live that long."

"We'll do our best, ma'am." One of the scientists assured me.

I bring my attention back to him. He played with my hair. He took my hand and glanced at its details.

"I had to do that at least once."

"It's time, Miss Faraday."

I gave him a light kiss.

"Alright. Go ahead."

I slowly step forward. Two personnel restrained me to make sure I don't escape. I glance back at him, while I still can.

"Caroline." He nodded.

I sob and nod back at him. The two forced me to head to the tube. My sight have never left him.

"Miss Faraday." I step into the grill, and into the elevator tube. The two remained outside.

A glass panel came down, separating me from the people outside.

I love you, I mouthed to him.

He nods again, and slapped on where his heart with be. That will remain in my heart.

The elevator ascends gently. I leaned onto the glass, dreading to learn what will await me next.