Lincoln felt like he'd been hit by a spell, his mind swirling with shock, which slowly settled into a deep sense of shame. Morris’s love for Nathalie was on a whole different level, making Lincoln feel inadequate as a father. Morris was like a candle, willing to burn himself out completely for Nathalie's sake.
Lincoln was so moved, he couldn't find words for a long while. "You actually put yourself through prison just to clear the path for Nathalie at the last moment. You silly boy, with your health, how much pain would prison bring you?" Lincoln's eyes were teary.
He wiped his tears with the back of his hand, feeling guilty. "I always held it against you for going to jail, never realizing you did it for Vivian. How could you be so foolish?"
Morris sighed, "Uncle, I’ve got progeria. The doctors say my body’s breaking down fast. At this rate, I might only have seven or eight years left."
Lincoln’s tears flowed. "Nathan, let's see another doctor. There has to be something we can do."
Morris looked somber, "They say they can slow it down a bit. But in a few years, I'll still end up with gray hair and wrinkles. Aging will rob me of my independence, needing help for everything, even the simplest things. Living like that, with no dignity... I can’t bear it."
Lincoln choked up, "Nathan, I went through something similar. It's not as bad as you think."
Morris replied, "I'm not like you, Uncle. Your condition's getting better, but I'll just keep getting older and weaker."
Lincoln gripped the table in pain, "Why did you have to get this disease? If Vivian knew, what would she do?"
Morris’s calm expression crumbled for a moment, "Uncle, Nathalie can't know about this. If she finds out, it’d be too much for her."
"Silly boy, I should be thanking you." Lincoln clutched Morris’s hand tightly, tears streaming down his face.
Morris, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by life and death. He calmly said, "Uncle, don’t be sad for me. Everyone meets their end someday. Compared to many, I’m fortunate."
As he spoke, Morris’s eyes were deep, gazing into the distance. Unlike his previous life, where he watched Nathalie’s tragic end without being able to help, this time, he had managed to keep her safe. He felt grateful.
After his talk with Morris, Lincoln couldn’t shake off the heavy mood. That evening, he made a special trip to the market, loading up on fresh ingredients. With his phone in one hand playing a cooking tutorial, he awkwardly tried to learn how to whip up various dishes.
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