Francis & Amilia

What has happened so far:
Financially secure, Francis keeps his working life to a minimum. His everyday life is dominated by virtual reality, in which he attempts to restage and develop the one varying dream that haunts him frequently and fragmentarily at night until he understands it completely. Maltes and Fiete fear losing Francis to the virtual world and try to win him back more and more for the real world. Although Francis shares his friends' concerns, he hardly responds to them because of his own intentions. But their closeness helps him not to lose himself in virtual life. Turning to Amilia also keeps him grounded in the real world. He has only just given Fiete his third letter to her. It should have been sent by him, but instead he read it together with Malte.

As Malte reads Francis' letter, he says: "It is certain that Amilia will never receive any of Francis' letters, but even his most recent letter tells me that he does not want to let her go. Even if he is close to despair, he still hopes to hear something from her and better than remaining in the dark about her, she should tell him why they have parted ways." Fiete admits: "But it's not as if she's going to write back to him." Malte continues: "We'll write back to Francis on her behalf." Fiete agrees: "Makes sense, Francis won't give up on Amilia until he finds out why Amilia has broken off contact with him, knows that it's not his fault and realises that he has to let her go. Malte nods and looks up at the sky in search of an answer: "The only question is what we write to him specifically." Fiete doesn't know exactly what to say and puts it off for now: "Let's go, we'll think of something."

The following day, the two meet in the café round the corner and set about writing the letter. "Dear Francis", that was easy. Malte continues straight away: "First of all, I apologise for disappearing without saying goodbye and only contacting you again with these lines. I would like to explain myself to you and you should know straight away that you are not to blame for my leaving. Nevertheless, we will not see each other again. However difficult it is, I can't help but close our chapter - with you, I hope. That requires your understanding and I will try to create it.

I left because," Malte doesn't know what else to say. Stalled in thought, mentally calling up words and immediately rejecting them again, Fiete jumps in and adds: "I left because I'm ill and want to die surrounded by my family, knowing that you would have seen the last of me as a healthy person." After a few minutes of thoughtful silence, Malte continues: "The Hanta virus attacked me on a research trip in South America, causing haemorrhagic fever and attacking my lungs." Malte breathes out heavily, Fiete finds the last words: "It's coming to an end, and I can close my eyes in the knowledge that I have lived fully, loved very much and experienced a lot of love. On that note, dear Francis, thank you and farewell."

Malte puts down his pen with a heavy expression and says: "Is this the right way?" Fiete nods, certain: "Yes, it's time to let her go, she's actually been dead for a long time."

Part 1
Part 2