“One can smell it in here. The odor has been particularly strong lately.”

“I wouldn’t know.” He took in a slow breath. “I want to feel the warm sun on my skin. Inhale the smell of our home. Feel the cool water.”

“You would be exposed–”

“To life son. To reality.” He pointed out. “This is no way for a Volardi to die. Let me face the end with dignity.” With a shaky hand he gestured for me to come closer.

He reached up and wiped away a tear I didn’t know was there.

“There… there’s the little boy I remember. The one that cried when he fell against the rainbow coral. Do you remember how I attended to you?”

My voice lowered to a whisper, “Yes.”

“Attend to me now…. The circle is ending. Please.”

My eyes closed, and I couldn’t say for how long yet I felt the warm, tears race down my face. With a body that didn’t seem under my control, I spoke to the doctors and asked the necessary questions.

Then I walked back to carry my Oma back to the ocean.

***

There were other ways to take him. A hoverchair could have transported him easily, but he deserved his son’s arms. I wouldn’t say it out loud, but he weighed so little I needed no help. Even Peter in his condition could have done it. We walked in silence while the memories flooded my mind. The pool where I searched for shells. Steps where I played with my furry childhood pets. The green, mossy stones while my Oma, my fathers, and I ate.

I walked with eyes just short of bursting into tears. He nudged me, and I found a spot in the white sand. The force field shoved the sand away before he ‘touched’ it. Old faded purple eyes looked up.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

His eyes closed. “Yes, absolutely.”

With a flat voice, I spoke the command and the force field flickered off.

“Oh,” he whispered. His hand went up faster than age or condition would indicate. The cold emanated from his palm into my warm flesh. His eyes widened, and I saw the smile amid his wrinkled skin. “I’ve… I forgot the smell. It’s so strong. Much more than I ever remember. Has anything changed?”

“No, it’s the same as before.”

“Strange that it would be different now.” His hand dug into the sand while he laughed. He was old, but it was almost like seeing a child in the sand. Some Volardi like to speculate that we live again. It’s why many of our elderly are children-like. They think some can’t wait to live their childhoods again.

It’s not something I believed, but it was nice to see him happy.

“Oh, the warmth… this is wonderful.”