Ah, this is beautiful! I was directed here by hd_prophet and I'm very glad of the rec. Your writing is so evocative - the thing about this that most reminded me of Vale Sanare is the intensity with which you describe physical pain. The slow disintegration of both of them is palpable - you really feel that they are approaching the end of their bodies' endurance. But the bond between them is described just as powerfully.

I'm left thinking what an interesting and effective choice it was to put those four lines of conversation at the beginning. It would have been a different story without them. Bleaker, more drama and less romance, less intensely focused on the effect and importance of this one promise. Such a simple way to focus the story and give it a more hopeful feel.

This was such a pleasure to read - thank you!