Final Stand About To Begin

Gary’s hand dropped by his side, fingers still clutching the phone as the line cut off with a faint click. The silence that followed was suffocating. His breath caught in his throat, the weight of the news pressing down on him like a mountain. It had been confirmed.

The worst had come.

And now, only ten minutes remained until midnight.

Behind him, a voice broke the stillness.

“I heard what they said,” Xin spoke gently, stepping closer. She placed a firm but comforting hand on Gary’s back, rubbing in slow circles. “I know you’re disappointed. I know this isn’t how it was supposed to go. But the situation is what it is. We can’t go back. All we can do is move forward now.”

Gary didn’t respond.

Was I wrong about Lupus?