Warning: This story requires kleenex, a handkerchief, and the sudden need for a hug or two.

Description:

Nathalie Sancoeur stood at the edge of the hospital bed with tears in her eyes. Her best friend was dying and there was nothing she could do about it.

 "Nathalie, is that you?"  The voice from the bed spoke weakly.

  "Yes, Emilie, I am here." She tried to reassure her friend.

     "Do me a favor," Emilie responded.

    "Oh, and what is it?" She looked at her friend bewildered. Emilie had not asked for a favor in years.

     "Take care of him for me," Emilie stated.  Nathalie asked, "Him? Adrien?"

     "Yes, you look after him, but I was speaking, of Gabriel. I am afraid he will be rather lonely after I am gone. I don't want him to do anything stupid," Emilie answered.

          "I will do my best."

          "Promise me, Nathalie you have to do this for me. You are my best friend and I would not trust anyone else. He is so fragile you see."

             "I promise," Nathalie said.

       Emilie smiled. She nodded her head as she gasped one more time and then lay still. Her breathing was slower than it had been in years. As the monitor overhead showed that she was slipping away, Nathalie sobbed. It was all her fault. If it had not been for her helping Gabriel and Emilie search for treasure none of this would have happened. Now, she was losing her best friend. It was bad enough the man she loved had married someone else. 

         Now she was expected to watch over him on her dead friend's behalf. What if she failed at the task? What would become of Gabriel, and Adrien then?

          Nathalie sat there in agony, grief-stricken, and feeling hopeless. Adrien and Gabriel entered the room at that moment. "Is she?" Adrien asked. "I am so sorry, Adrien," she said as she hugged him. The poor boy was only thirteen and his mother lay dead in the hospital room.  It was not right that he should be robbed of the only one who loved him. 

        Find out more in Take Care of Him for Me part 2 by Summer Cheng SummerCheng37

       Ps. The author apologizes in advance for any sad content, but such is the nature of stories.  Some are sad, just like some parts of life are full of happiness and joy, while others are full of sadness and tragedy.