My Love Until the Last Goodbye by Alut

Maximus had come to understand something important—so much of what makes

a family strong lies in its core: the father and the mother. He'd seen it with his own eyes, experienced it with his father, and once with his grandmother.

After a long, yet somehow short, time lingering around the table, the moment to say goodbye finally arrived. It was one of those goodbyes that felt strange, one nobody wanted to say. Both Maximus and Lucius weren't ready for it, but it had to happen.

They'd made a promise, and they were men of their word. So, with heavy hearts, they put on their grown-up faces and smiled.

"Lucius..... Before you go, once you've said goodbye to everyone, come see me in the study. I'll be waiting for you there," Maximus said, trying to swallow the lump in his throat.

"Okay, Maximus," the young man replied.

The first to say their goodbyes were the old-timers, Matthew and Magnus, who, with their many years of wisdom, knew this was just a temporary farewell.

They trusted that time would do its thing and that the young man would be back before anyone even realized it.

What they didn't know was whether they'd still be around when he returned. Because, truth be told, this wasn't a boy anymore-not even a young man. He was a man. And maybe they wouldn't live to see him become what he was clearly destined to be a judge.

He never said it outright, but his actions showed it: he would be the first judge to carry the Evans name with pride.

"Alright, kid..." Matthew said, placing his hands on Lucius's shoulders. "We hope you come visit soon. Christmas break would be a good time."

"No! Not then-we already agreed we're going to Las Vegas," Magnus said, completely serious.

"Oh, right! Our schedule's packed for that trip. Well, come whenever you can. Hopefully before one of us drops dead and you only make it to our funeral."

"Don't say that..." Lucius said, a little surprised at how casually they talked about death.

our age, we just have to be thankful for every morning we wake up- and every night we don't kick the

so dramatic,"

you're our age. But you've got a long way to go,"

girl you brought she seems like a good one. Don't waste the chance. Think about a future with her," Matthew said,

rolled his eyes and shook

already-with kids, a

these days-they wait till they're 40 to have kids, get married, start the life they say isn't for

I know Amanda's the right person. We just have a lot of plans, and

excuses... Go start a life. Time waits for no one," Magnus said, pulling

to see you soon-and maybe with a great- grandchild

even like kids!" Lucius said,

just from a

to miss out on meeting my great-grandkids. Don't end-up like Theodore, who's getting married now at

now at

43-year-old..."

smiling. Those two old men, with all their wisdom, had stopped

of unsolicited life advice, Lucius went to see

miss you! I want you to live

worry. I'll be back before you even notice I'm gone.

crouched down

"As soon as I get back to New Zealand, I see if I can transfer. schools.

I really like being with

guys too."

५