“I… I can’t,” I whispered. “I can’t leave him.”
But they were already moving faster now. The sound of the machine became louder, more chaotic. I felt like I was drowning in it.
And then—
A long, steady sound.
Flat.
Everything stopped.
“No…” I shook my head. “No, no, no…”
Someone gently held my shoulders, pulling me back. I couldn’t feel my body. I couldn’t hear anything except the silence that came after.
Just silence.
Daniel was gone.
The world didn’t crash. It didn’t break.
It just… emptied.
I don’t remember how long I stood there. Minutes. Hours. It didn’t matter anymore.
Later, when the room was quiet again, I walked back inside. Slowly. Carefully. Like if I moved too fast, I would wake up from this nightmare… or fall deeper into it.
He looked peaceful now.
Too peaceful.
I sat beside him and held his hand again. Cold… but still his.
