Chapter 13 - The Last Salute
Two nights later, the call came from the hospital.
I rushed through the quiet, dimly lit corridors, my heart hammering with a heavy, inescapable dread.
When I reached his room, the machines were beeping with a slow, fading rhythm. Arthur was awake, but his breathing was shallow.
I rushed to his side, gripping his hand with both of mine.
"I'm here, Uncle Arthur. I'm right here,"
I whispered frantically, tears finally spilling over my cheeks.
Arthur looked up at me. The fierce, demanding general was gone, replaced by a peaceful, tired old soldier who had completed his final mission.
"Don't cry for me, Scarlett,"
Arthur murmured, his voice barely a breath against the quiet hum of the hospital room.
"I have lived a very long, very full life. And I am ready to go see my best friend again."
"I can't do this without you,"
I sobbed, resting my forehead against his knuckles.
"Yes, you can,"
Arthur commanded softly, offering me one last, absolute directive.
"You are Richard Sterling's daughter. You are made of iron. Guard the gates, Scarlett. Guard them well."
May you like
His sharp blue eyes lost their focus, drifting toward the ceiling, before closing for the very last time. The rhythmic beeping of the monitor flatlined into a solid, continuous tone.
The greatest soldier I had ever known was gone.
