One day when he was out sightseeing, he caught a sight of the rose princess. She had beauty that triumphed all others'. The evil wizard fell for her at that very moment. He decided that she must belong to him and so he took her away and locked her in his castle."

Vincent read the story to his mother from the worn out book. He would always read stories to his mother and she would listen to him with a smile on her face. She would praise him and then talk about how proud she was of him and how much she loved him. But she didn't have the usual smile on her face. She looked very sick and even someone with little to no medical knowledge or expertise could see that her condition was only getting worse.

Vincent, like always waited for his mother to say how the knight who would later come to rescue the rose princess and slay the evil wizard was like her brave little son. Smart and courageous. But the words he was expecting never left her lips.

Tears streamed down her face as she stifled her cries and spoke, "Being the evil wizard must be nice. He can eat delicious food, wear luxurious clothes and doesn't have to worry about anything. His children won't have hard time as well. I am sorry Vincent. Mama can't give you anything. Mama doesn't have anything to give you at all. I can't even stay by your side anymore. Promise mama that you will live happily."

Vincent felt a stabbing pain in his chest. His mother was always smiling. She was always cheerful. She was his entire world and he felt helpless as he watched her suffer. They didn't have any money for medicine. He hated how poor they were. He hated how weak he was. He clenched his fists and promised her, "I will live just like the evil wizard did. I will be even stronger than him and ama.s.s much more wealth. Mama doesn't have to worry. Mama gave me everything that I have ever had. Please don't cry."

Her expression softened and her eyes were filled with love as she looked at him. She nodded, "Mama believes in you. You will grow up to be very strong and wealthy. Mama isn't worrying anymore. Mama is so happy that you came into mama's life. You are my treasure. The most valuable treasure in the whole world. I love you."

She hugged him as he cried in her arms. He slowly fell into a deep slumber embraced by her warmth. She too closed her eyes that had grown heavy and held him tighter for she knew she wouldn't wake up the next day. The lamp went out and darkness covered the room. Two sets of breaths could be heard until one grew weaker and eventually went quiet.