Calvin lay in his bed, the once mischievous sparkle in his eyes now dim, replaced by the weight of years. His great-granddaughter, Lily, sat at his bedside, her little hands clasping his frail fingers. She didn’t understand the gravity of the moment, not fully. She only knew that her great-grandpa, who always told her the best tiger stories, seemed tired—tired in a way she hadn’t seen before.

Calvin smiled weakly and turned his head toward the small chest by his bedside, the one that had been locked for as long as Lily could remember. He gestured for her to open it. With a creak, the lid rose, and inside, nestled in soft fabric, was a stuffed tiger. His fur was worn from years of love, his stripes faded but still vibrant with memories.

“This,” Calvin whispered, his voice raspy but filled with warmth, “is Hobbes. He was my best friend. We went on so many adventures together, and now… he’s yours.”

Lily picked up Hobbes, cradling him in her arms. She looked up at Calvin, unsure, but there was something comforting in the tiger’s familiar face. Calvin coughed softly, but his gaze stayed on Hobbes, a wistful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

As Lily held the tiger close, she could have sworn she heard a voice, soft and gentle. “Hey, kid,” Hobbes said, “I’m Hobbes. Your great-grandpa and I went through everything together. Now, we’ll go on adventures, you and me.”

Her eyes widened, and she looked at Calvin, but he had closed his eyes, his breathing shallow. Tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched Hobbes tighter. "Will Grandpa be okay?" she whispered.

Hobbes' voice was gentle. “Your great-grandpa is heading on a new adventure. One that’s just for him. But he wanted to make sure I stayed with you, so you’d never feel alone.”

Lily felt a tear roll down her cheek, not fully understanding, but knowing something important was happening. “Will he come back?”

Hobbes’ orange-striped face softened, as if filled with endless wisdom. “No, but he’ll always be with us, in the stories we remember and the love we share.”

Calvin’s chest rose one final time, a deep, peaceful breath, before it fell silent. A soft smile lingered on his face, and in that moment, Lily felt the bittersweet weight of loss.

She held Hobbes close, and in her heart, she knew: the adventures weren’t over—they were just beginning, in a different way.