Duke was a powerful aristocrat. He rose to fame by sheer hardwork. He married very late essentially because he saw marriage as a barrier to help him attain his desired heights in life.
Soon after getting married he started having some health challenges. The union between Duke and his loving wife produced two male issues. He nurtrured the lads to become young adults. He was proud of them both. He gave them the childhood experinces he never had. But his health began to wane seriously.
Duke moved from one specialist hospital to another in search of a permanent cure for his ailment but all to no avail. One day he told himself that it was time to end his miseries. He couldn't bear and/or stand to be bedridden. Just like an advocate of the hemlock society he decided to end it once and for all. His wife and children were scheduled to visit that morning to see him. But by the time they came they only met a written note beside Duke saying: "thank you for your love steadfastness towards me but the pains I am passing through is unbearable. I had to end it all. I had a good life and desire a good death. I hope you will understood".
Both mother and children burst into uncontrollable weeping. If only we could help. We will miss you dearly.
This short story is a five-minute freewrite inspired by the prompt: "Hemlock Society". Join the @freewriters community to receive daily prompts, hosted by @mariannewest