"Meanwhile, Bob arrived at Swan Lake town on the third day and headed straight to the lake's bank. The view was as stunning as ever, making him feel blessed with the life he had. Great friends surrounded him, and their families were priceless gems. He never imagined finding a family outside his own.
Taking a deep breath of the cool breeze, he happily strolled towards his home. Finding the door closed, he realized his father was out for work. After a few minutes of knocking, the door finally opened.
His weak-looking mother welcomed him with a smile, embracing him weakly. Guiding her to bed, he covered her with a blanket. "Mother, please rest well. Our troubles are coming to an end," he reassured her.
Smiling, she caressed his cheeks. "I'm happy to hear that, my son. I feel tired; I'll rest for now. Wake me up when your father returns."
Bob's father, Emanuel, returned late in the afternoon, when he saw Bob opening the door he smiled widely. "When did you arrive? Whose majestic horse is that?"
"I Came a few hours ago, father. The horse is mine. I'll explain later. What happened to mother? She seemed tired," Bob inquired.
"She was normal this morning. Let's prepare the meal and wake her up," Emanuel said, heading to the kitchen, with Bob following.
"Father, I have a surprise to reveal during lunch," Bob said excitedly. However, when he tried waking his mother, she didn't respond. Emanuel fwlt her forehead cold, when he turned her, he discovered her lifeless body with a serene smile. He dropped to his knees unable to say anything.
Bob, in a daze, touched her cold cheeks. Tears flowed freely. After carrying out the rituals, they returned home late that night. Father and son sat awake the whole night, dozing off in the early morning.
Bob woke to find his father preparing breakfast. "Father, what are you going to do from here on?" Bob asked. "I don't know, my son. My world revolved around Maria for so many years now; I can't imagine my life without her."
"Come with me to Winden City, Father. There's nothing left here for us. Now, we don't even have Mother who loved this town," Ben choked with sadness.
Emanual remained silent, contemplating for a long time. Eventually, he took a deep breath and nodded.
"Let us sort out our affairs first, son. This house," Emanuel sighed, glancing around, "was bought to keep your mother happy. Without her, there's no reason to stay. It might take a couple of days till everything is settled and we sell this house. After that, we shall leave this place." Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke. His wife's suffering over the past few years had left an emptiness he now keenly felt.
After four days, Emanuel had settled everything and sold the house. Bob never felt his father's soul was in his body and in this place sincethe day his mother passed away. They prepared to leave, bidding farewell to neighbors and friends before coming to the burial ground for Maria's final respects.
Bob knelt down, tears flowing uncomfortably. "Goodbye, Mom. I don't know when I'll be able to come back here to see you." He got up, unable to bear watching the grave, and turned around, sobbing.
Emanuel knelt down beside Maria's grave, expressing his sorrow. "I don't know what to do without you, dear. I was the happiest person to be with you. The love I received from you can never be repaid in this life, my love." He lay down on her grave, sobbing. Witnessing this heart-wrenching scene, Bob understood the depth of his parents' love.
After a few seconds, Emanuel's sobs faded, and silence enveloped the burial ground.
"Come on, Father, let's go," Bob called, wiping his eyes. There was no reply. Turning back, he found his father still lying on his wife's grave.
Father, Bob tried to shake him, but Emanual never opened his eyes again. True love followed his wife beyond the grave.
Bob burried his father next to his mother on that day and bade farewell. He was the saddest to have lost both his parents within few days at the same time, he was the happiest to have seen the meaning of true love and what it ment to be a soulmate.
He left to the Green Town with a merchants group as a passenger, sitting inside the caravan half of the time lost in his parents memory and half the time walking with his horse conversing with it about his parents, expressing his sadness in a soft voice.