This episode of the SHORTS podcast contains themes, content, language, and the uncanny ability to make you burst into uncontrollable tears, all of which may not be suitable for some listeners - listener discretion is advised.

Some stories are designed to entertain, others to teach or impart knowledge. Still others, like this one, aim to make an emotional connection and share life experiences through the written (or in this case verbal) word. In this story we meet Robert, suffering from a terminal illness, seeks to understand the journey that his illness sets him on. After meeting a surprising, yet welcomed figure from Robert's past, we begin to understand what facing death might be like as Robert slips away.

Thanks to the author: Seth Merlo

the SHORTS podcast is dedicated to showcasing varied authors across a range of genres, from around the world and is delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with such great creative people. If you would like to be included, please contact the team on Discord; via email through our website; r/hailandwellmet on reddit; or @hailpodcast on twitter.

Special thanks to our wonderful patrons: Gio; Andrew; Ryan; Evvie - and everyone else. Without you, we would not have the ability to have created this podcast. Check out our Patreon page where you can support the show.

Thanks to everyone else involved in this episode of the SHORTS podcast, including:

• Written by: Seth Merlo
• Robert, voiced by: Seth Merlo
• Dr Lowe, voiced by: Mike Nye
• Helen, voiced by: Kirsty Merlo
• Chat and "Dad", voiced by: Tarran Merlo
• the SHORTS podcast theme song created by Shawn Korkie (https://shawnkorkie.bandcamp.com).
• the SHORTS podcast artwork by the amazing Keely (https://cutewitchirl.artstation.com/).

The following music licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/):

• "Despair and Triumph" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
• "Eternal Hope" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
• "Stages of Grief" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
• "Reawakening" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
• "Bittersweet" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

SFX used under the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/):

• ayubwahuma: https://freesound.org/people/ayubwaguma/sounds/447604/
• NLM: https://freesound.org/people/NLM/sounds/262402/
• JohnLaVine333: https://freesound.org/people/JohnLaVine333/sounds/81553/

SFX used under the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/):

• themfish: https://freesound.org/people/themfish/sounds/45810/
• unfa: https://freesound.org/people/unfa/sounds/187023/
• RobertMThomas: https://freesound.org/people/RobertMThomas/sounds/151136/
• jesabat: https://freesound.org/people/jesabat/sounds/119741/
• sdfalk: https://freesound.org/people/sdfalk/sounds/2507/

SFX used under the Creative Commons 0 License (but we wanted to name them anyway to say thanks):

• bbrocer: https://freesound.org/people/bbrocer/sounds/382658/
• acoley: https://freesound.org/people/acoley/sounds/83496/
• SoundDawg101: https://freesound.org/people/SoundDawg101/sounds/171635/
• reg7783: https://freesound.org/people/reg7783/sounds/321800/
• launemax: https://freesound.org/people/launemax/sounds/250033/
• alienistcog: https://freesound.org/people/alienistcog/sounds/124390/
• 14FPanskaBenesova_Barbora: https://freesound.org/people/14FPanskaBenesova_Barbora/sounds/420049/
• Pfannkuchn: https://freesound.org/people/Pfannkuchn/sounds/457604/
• Cornwallis89: https://freesound.org/people/Cornwallis89/sounds/244593/

Thank you for listening! ❤️