“I didn’t want to worry you,” he said softly. “But I’ve been recording bedtime stories for the kids… because I might not always be here to tell them.”
Nella’s breath caught. “What do you mean? Why wouldn’t you be here?”
Eric hesitated before confessing. “A few weeks ago, I saw a doctor. They found a tumor. It’s cancer, Nella. And it’s bad. I don’t know how much time I have left.”
Her world shattered. The man she loved, her rock, had been carrying this devastating secret alone. Tears streamed down her face as she gripped his hand tightly. “Why didn’t you tell me? You don’t have to go through this alone.”
“I wanted to protect you,” Eric said. “I didn’t want you to see me differently. But I also wanted to leave something behind for the kids—a way for them to still hear my voice.”
From that moment, they faced the battle together. The following months were a blur of doctor’s appointments, treatments, and cherished moments. Eric poured all his energy into his family, playing with the kids, making them laugh, and creating memories they would carry forever. But the disease was relentless. Despite his strength, Eric knew his time was limited.
One quiet winter morning, Eric passed away. The house felt unbearably empty. Nella and the children were left grappling with their immense loss. Days after the funeral, Nella found the recordings Eric had left behind. Among them was one labeled Our Story.
With trembling hands, she pressed play. His familiar, warm voice filled the room.
“Once upon a time,” he began, “there was a princess with the kindest heart and the greatest courage. She met an ordinary man, and together, they built a life full of love, laughter, and adventures.”
Through tears, Nella smiled. Eric had left her a gift—his love story, their love story, preserved forever.
Whenever grief weighed her down, Nella turned to the recordings, letting Eric’s voice remind her of the extraordinary life they shared. Slowly, she found strength again, carrying on their fairytale with the love and courage he had always admired.