The gorilla was taken away, and the old man remained alone in his empty house. He sat for a long time by the empty cage, gently touching the old rope the gorilla used to play with, and cried, unable to accept the loss.

Years passed. The gorilla was moved to a local zoo, where it quickly adapted to its new environment. The zookeepers were amazed by its intelligence and calm nature — it never showed aggression and always observed people with a gentle, curious look.

Meanwhile, the old man was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The disease progressed rapidly, and doctors gave him no hope — maybe a month, at most two. He could hardly get out of bed, spoke little, ate little, but one thought never left his mind: he wanted to see his friend, the gorilla, one last time.

His story appeared in a local newspaper, and the zoo’s management, deeply moved, decided to grant his final wish.