I’m… glad you lasted this long.

[ FLASHBACK ]

"Was my boy giving you a hard time?"

Maxen turned to the old man sitting on the hospital bed. The old man had his back against the headboard, eating some grapes that Maxen brought to him. Looking at the old man, the latter had more wrinkles on his face, but his smile was just as big and bright as ever. 

"How many years has it been since the first time you came here?" the old man looked up and smiled, reminiscing the time his grandson brought this friend of his. "Five.. six…"

"Eight years," Maxen corrected, resting his leg over the other. He was sitting on the chair near the floor-to-length window; his usual spot whenever he would visit this old man. "It's been eight years."

"Eight years… haha! I lived a lot longer than I expected." The old man chuckled happily.

"You did." Maxen's eyes softened as he watched the old man clap. "I'm glad you did."