Funny to think of duty being what would be Giles’s salvation when he’d lost all reason for going on, even if it was duty that brought him no pleasure. It rings true, though: she had been the meaning in his life, but fidelity to her required him to safeguard those who had been her meaning.

Even if it provides no comfort, something to hold onto can make all the difference.

And I agree with the observation that you used the lines from the song sparingly but effectively. It’s very easy to overdo something like that. You didn’t, and it shows.