Well, a lot has happened since I sealed the gate.
I still can't believe Heidrick is dead or that my brother & I our back together.
I thought I would end up taking care of my little bro; cuz he was new to this place... & not sure how things worked yet. (with no alchemy & all)
Boy was I wrong!
It was a morning like any other, 'cept I woke up coughing my lungs out!
Needless to say... my brother Al was concerned, but I assured him it was just a little cold. (it must be right?)
So I thought...
but it kept getting worse & I ended up coughing up blood.
Al took me to see a doctor, then I heard the bad news...
It seems Alphones Heidrick (the guy I had been staying with) had tuberculosis before he died.
He had tried to keep it a secret, but somehow ended up giving it to me.
They didn't have a cure yet, but they had some pills to give me they said would help.
Later I took my first "cough pill" as I called it... it seemed to help. I felt the congestion in my chest ease abit, & for a while I even stopped coughing.
I felt better, but it didn't last...
I was still sick & one day I found Al carring for me as I lay in bed with a fever.
I asked him why he risked his health to take care of me like that.
He said "You gave your arm & leg & even your life for me, it's the least I could do... in evquivalent exchange."
I smiled & and laughed a bit before I was interrupted by a coughing fit.
"it's nice that you care so much" I said, "but am I really worth it to you? What if you do get sick" I asked.
"Yes, big brother you are" He answered. "& besides I was sick before, when I was Heidrick in my dreams" He added. "if I could handle it as him I could handle it again!"
I reflected on what he said & what had happened; & then it seemed to me that although he was gone a part of Heidrick would always be with us.