"…Kill me…" Camillo whispered as Roland stood frozen.
"…Kill me…" he repeated, voice cracking. Roland opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. Suddenly, Camillo grabbed Roland's shirt with trembling hands and growled,
"End it, boy! Kill me!"
Roland seized his arm and pulled it away, his voice calm yet heavy with emotion.
"…Nothing I say would change your mind… I could try to alter your emotions, but you'd hate me even more for it. I'm grateful to you…" He gave a soft chuckle. "Dorothy… she made one of the best meals I've ever eaten since coming here. She felt like a grandma."
Camillo froze. He wanted to grab Roland again, to force him to use his abilities to end his pain. He had nothing left now.
No home to return to… no one to sing to… no one left to care for…
His eyes grew distant, clouded with despair, as he stared at Roland with hollow intensity. After a moment, Roland took a deep breath and hugged him. The embrace lingered in the stillness.
