[ WP ] You must kill yourself in a ritualistic manner to regain your youth . You have done this hundreds of times now . You are about to die of old age , but you are not sure you want to go through with it this time .

`` I can ’ t believe it ’ s already been ninety years, ” I say to know one in particular, not that anyone ever came to this park anymore. Or if they did, they didn ’ t venture over the hill to find the solitary bench nestled underneath the willow tree, I guess a hundred lives makes a man pensive. I look beside me and see the small Rune Blade laying momentarily forgotten next to the small bouquet. The strange metal almost appeared to glow as it reflected the fiery light of the sunset. 
 
 The sunsets always were beautiful this time of year and this park always reminded me of Lucy. She loved this bench and the willow. Even when the cancer made her too weak to walk, she would ask me to push the wheelchair over the hill so she could enjoy the last light of the late-summer days. She knew my secret, one of the few who did, and loved me anyway. You can ’ t buy love like that, not in ten lives, not in a thousand. 
 
 Sure, Lucy had passed on back in the 1820s, eight lifetimes ago; sure their had been other women, Dianne, Roxy, Susanna, Mae Lee; but none of them were her, and none of them could fill the hole she left. Nothing did. 
 
 I look back over at the Rune Blade. Restoring youth didn ’ t particularly hurt, it didn ’ t really feel like anything; in fact, it was downright mundane. A simple slit of the throat, a moment of dizziness, and suddenly the years vanished and you were left as good as.. well as good as new. But it didn ’ t work for anyone else. It couldn ’ t save Lucy. 
 
 I look at the small grave underneath the willow and shudder as a lone tear rolls down my cheek. Maybe it ’ s time I finally did say goodbye. Time to move on and see what lies beyond. 
 
 I slowly get to my feet and pick up the bouquet of wildflowers. I walk over to the base of the willow and set the carefully arrange stems softly by the headstone. Suddenly feeling incredibly weary I lay down beside the grave and smile slightly as I finally drift off to sleep.
