Sookie Stackhouse paced the dimly lit room, her heart racing. The air smelled of damp earth and old books—a mix of comfort and unease. Outside, rain tapped against the window, a melancholic rhythm that matched her thoughts.
Eric Northman, the ancient vampire with icy blue eyes and a wicked smile, lay on the bed. His once-pale skin now bore dark veins—the telltale sign of Hepatitis V. Sookie had seen it before—the slow decay, the fading strength. But this time felt different. This time, it was Eric.
"Sookie," he whispered, his voice weaker than she'd ever heard it. "I'm sorry."
She knelt by his side, brushing her fingers over his forehead. "Don't apologize, Eric. You're dying because of me."
He chuckled, a raspy sound. "Always the martyr, aren't you? It's not your fault."
"But it is," she insisted. "I should've found a way to cure you sooner."
Eric's hand trembled as he reached for hers. "You've done more than anyone else would. You've always been my weakness, Sookie."
She blinked back tears. "And you've been mine."
They'd danced around each other for years—attraction, danger, secrets. Sookie, the telepathic waitress, and Eric, the vampire sheriff. Their paths intersected, collided, and entwined. But now, with death looming, there were no more games.
"Sookie," Eric said, his eyes locking onto hers, "I want you to remember something."
"What?" Her voice cracked.
"When I first met you," he began, "I thought you were just another human—annoying, fragile. But then I tasted your blood, and everything changed. You were like a burst of sunlight in my dark existence."
Sookie swallowed hard. "Eric..."
"I've loved you," he confessed, "in my own twisted way. And I regret nothing."
She leaned down, pressing her lips to his. "I love you too, you big idiot."
His laughter turned into a cough, and she wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. "Sookie," he murmured, "promise me something."
"Anything."
"Live," he said. "Live for both of us. Find happiness, even if it's without me."
Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I can't lose you."
"You won't," he whispered. "I'll always be with you."
And then, in that small room, surrounded by rain and memories, Sookie Stackhouse held Eric Northman as he slipped away.
