[Once he's cured, everything will be fine again.]

[Don't worry. All the pain you've suffered—I'll make it up to you someday.]

I stared at the message, expressionless.

Taking off my soaked jacket, I wrapped the ashes carefully, almost tenderly. Then, without a word, I buried the phone in the earth beside my mother's grave, stood up unsteadily, and walked away—one heavy step at a time, never looking back.