He with the golden aura
watched the tumors grow.
At first she seemed fine
The medication must've helped
Surgery does no good for these tumors

They had children together
she working as hard as he
making sure
the offspring had the right foods friends opportunities
though he more than she
took actions to ensure their safety
picking them up when they fell for instance

After a while the medication didn't work
The kids were grown and on their own
They were alone except for three household helpers
He saw she was hardly moving breathing hard
The tumors spread to one eye
she could not see
It didn't matter to him
She was still beautiful

He hovered close night and day
wanting to ensure her comfort
willing her back to life
leaving to eat and take care of himself
then back to his vigil
One morning she was sprawled on her side
The life gone out of her

Then he was alone except for the three helpers
He ate and seemed all right
Two young cousins joined him
They chatted for the first few days
Then he drifted into the background
while they watched him from a distance
not wanting to disturb him
wanting to respect him
Their joy in each other seemed
to make him miss her more

He became uninterested in eating
not moving
One morning they found him dead
in the far corner
of his aquarium
no tumors
no blindness
an intact angel fish

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