Descent into Madness

Sobs filled the air, echoing through the night like a haunting melody. Nicky's eyes were wide with fear, his face pale as he stared at the blood-soaked ground. He feared blood, but at the same time, he felt a sense of responsibility, his shoulders sagging under the weight of guilt.

Alex's breathing was slowing down, his chest rising and falling with a faint rhythm. Nawe's lifeless body lay nearby, her eyes frozen in a permanent stare. James' face was contorted in a mixture of anger and anguish, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Why did you block the bullets, Alex?" James shouted, his voice echoing through the night. "I hate heroes now! You're one of them!" He sounded crazy, walking sideways as he spoke, his hands clenched into fists. His eyes bulged with rage, his face reddening with every word.

Nicky listened intently to James, his eyes fixed on his friend's face. The clouds seemed to be gathering, and rain was imminent, the air thick with electricity. "Ha! You're as good as dead now," James spat, his words dripping with venom. His lips curled into a snarl, his teeth bared in a fierce growl.

James' eyes locked onto Alex's face, his voice cracking with emotion. "Please, God, take him now. He's in so much pain. I can bear seeing him like this." Nicky stared up at the dark sky, his eyes searching for answers. The rain began to pour down, drumming against the pavement like a mournful beat.

Before Alex took his last breath, James asked, "Was it worth it?" Alex's eyes locked onto James', and with great effort, he whispered, "Y-yes." Tears streamed down James' face as Alex smiled, his eyes wide open, staring at Mia. The smile was a faint, fleeting thing, but it spoke volumes of Alex's sacrifice.

Nicky's silence was deafening, his stillness a stark contrast to James' explosive outburst. He didn't complain or say a word, his eyes fixed on Nawe's lifeless body and Alex, who had given his life to save someone he didn't know. His face was a mask of grief, his eyes sunken with sorrow.

Jake, Nicky, couldn't take it anymore and burst into tears, his body shaking with sobs. "You always said you'd protect him!" He screamed, her fists pounding against Nicky's chest. "What happened now? Why didn't you save him? You know he's foolish and crazy when he loves someone, but you let him come back... to die!"

Nicky's silence was met with Jake's anger, his blows raining down on him like a storm. A blow was landed on Jake's face, making him lose balance and fall to the ground in the pool of blood. James' death stare met Jake's eyes, his voice low and menacing.

"Do you wish to join them?" he roared. "Ah, I... you always wanted Mia. Now he's gone. Take her!" James' fury was out of control, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. He asked Mia to leave his sight, along with her friend's mother. He knelt down, putting his hands together, and bowed his head.

"Please, Mia, can you leave? I know you never wished for any of this, but can you go? We need some time alone, or else I'll continue blaming you, which I'll regret later. Give us time, please." James' words were laced with anger and sorrow, his voice cracking with emotion.

Mia stood up slowly, glancing at the older lady helping her up. Their clothes were filled with Alex's and Nawe's blood, the stains a grim reminder of the tragedy that had unfolded. Nicky watched as they disappeared into the night, his eyes fixed on the spot where they had vanished.

He still didn't say a word, just sat quietly, watching James and Jake lose their energy and sit next to him. The rain continued to pour down, a relentless drumbeat that seemed to match the rhythm of their grief.

The scene unfolded like a nightmare, the rain-soaked streets gleaming with a faint, eerie light. The sound of police sirens echoed through the distance, a mournful cry that seemed to match the rhythm of Nicky's heartbeat.

As Inspector John approached the scene, his eyes scanned the carnage before him. Nicky, Jake, and James sat in stunned silence, their clothes soaked in rainwater and blood. The air was thick with tension, the only sound the heavy breathing of them.

Inspector John's gaze fell upon Alex's lifeless body, his eyes widening in horror. "Aa... Alex, wait! Alex, is that you?" He laughed, a nervous, hysterical sound. "You good-for-nothing! You're just sitting there! He needs medical attention!"

The inspector's words seemed to hang in the air, a cruel reminder of the tragedy that had unfolded. Nicky's silence was deafening, his eyes fixed on the ground as if unable to bear the sight of his friend's lifeless body.

As the reality of the situation sank in, Inspector John's face crumpled, his eyes welling up with tears. "What happened, Nicky?" he asked, his voice cracking with emotion.

The only response was the sound of raindrops falling on the pavement, a relentless drumbeat that seemed to echo the question: what happened?

The sight of Alex's and Nawe's lifeless bodies, lying motionless in a puddle of wet, flooded rainwater, only added to the overwhelming sorrow that filled the air. The rainwater, tainted with the scent of wet earth and decay, surrounded their bodies like a mournful shroud, emphasizing the finality of their loss.

Alex's eyes, once bright and full of life, now stared blankly upwards, his face pale and serene. Nawe's body, similarly still, seemed frozen in time, her beautiful features now forever silenced.

The rainwater, gently rippling around their bodies, seemed to whisper a haunting lament, a poignant reminder of the transience of life. The sound was almost deafening, a constant echo that seemed to reverberate deep within Nicky's soul.

As he gazed upon the lifeless bodies of his friends, Nicky felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. The pain was unbearable, a weight that threatened to crush his

at any moment.

He felt like he was drowning in a sea of grief, unable to find a lifeline to cling to. The world around he seemed to fade away, leaving only the stark reality of death and loss.

Nicky's eyes welled up with tears as he whispered a silent prayer, hoping that his friends would find peace in the afterlife. But for now, he was left to pick up the pieces of his shattered heart.

Mmeanwhile Mia's eyes were sunken, her face pale and exhausted. Her wet clothes clung to her shivering body, a stark reminder of the traumatic events that had unfolded. Sara's mother, similarly dressed in a wet, red dress, leaned heavily on Mia, her own eyes filled with tears.

As they walked through the hospital corridors, Mia's anger and frustration began to simmer just below the surface. Her fists were clenched, her jaw set in a determined line. She felt helpless, unable to save Alex and Nawe, and her emotions were boiling over.

The hospital lights seemed too bright, the sounds too loud. Mia's senses were overwhelmed, her mind reeling with images of the tragic events that had transpired. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of grief, unable to find a lifeline to cling to.

Sara's mother, sensing Mia's distress, wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Mia, dear, I'm so sorry," she whispered, her own voice cracking with emotion.

Mia's face contorted in a mixture of anger and sadness. She felt like screaming, like shattering the hospital windows with her bare fists. But she couldn't. She was paralyzed by grief, unable to move or speak.

As they reached the doctor's office, Mia's legs gave way beneath her. She collapsed onto the floor, her body wracked with sobs. Sara's mother knelt beside her, holding her close as they both wept uncontrollably.

The doctor's voice was a distant hum, a soothing balm that tried to calm their frazzled nerves. But Mia was beyond consolation. She was lost in a sea of despair, unable to find her way back to shore."Mia fell, but the doctors helped her to her feet. Two days later, the sky was a dull gray as the caskets were lowered into the earth, side by side—brother and sister, forever entwined in death as they had been in life. The mourners stood still, their breaths held, the weight of loss too heavy to bear. In the distance, the wind whispered through the trees, as if nature itself wept the rest of the family members, and not a soul moved as the last shovelful of dirt sealed their fates."

"I deserved to know," Nicky said, his voice low and menacing. He raised his hand, his eyes pleading desperately as he glared at Mia, who had dared to provoke him to cry. "You could have at least reached out to me. This little gesture would have meant everything. Maybe, just maybe, they wouldn't been dead."

Mia's eyes dropped, her face etched with guilt.

"I cared for him just as much as you did," Mia continued, her voice cracking with emotion. Correction, Mia," Nicky said:

You cared for him as much as I did,

Past tense for you, but not for me.

His laughter echoes in my mind,

While yours fades, a memory.

Nicky sighs, his eyes burning with tears that dry quickly, rage tightening his voice as he continues.

You let go, but I still cling,

A friendship that time could not undo.

You moved on, but I remain,

Still caring for him more than you.

The room fell silent, with all eyes on Nicky. James and Jake, who were standing next to the deceased Alex and Nawe's hanging photos, watched as Nicky's calm, deadly voice occupied the room.

"You think I should just move on because you all did?" Nicky's voice trembled, but he refused to break. "You think it's that easy to forget someone who was a part of me?"

As Nicky spoke, his words cut deep into the hearts of those around him. James and Jake teared up, seeing the pain and anguish etched on Nicky's face. The mourners in black, who filled the room, bowed their heads in respect, their faces somber and sorrowful.

Although Nicky appeared strong, he needed to cry to cleanse his buried heart. But he couldn't. His half was gone, and he wasn't even grieving in the right way, which only made the hurt worse.

The room seemed to grow darker, as if the shadows themselves were closing in on Nicky. The air was thick with unspoken pain, and the weight of Nicky's grief hung heavy over the mourners.

Mia's eyes widened in shock as Nicky finally spoke up. "Mia, he finally said in a low, calm and trembling voice, his eyes cast downward in shame. "Alex cared mostly for you." His voice cracked as he struggled to continue.

Mia's face twisted in a mixture of anger and sadness. She took a step forward, her fists clenched. "What do you mean?" she demanded, her voice low and menacing.

Nicky hesitated, his eyes darting around nervously. "As we sat in the car looking for you, he was so stressed, his eyes kept tearing up," he stammered. "He promised that if a day came and he had to choose between his life or yours, he would still choose to save yours."

Mia's face contorted in rage. "You're telling me this now?" she screamed, her voice echoing through the air. "After he's gone?" She slammed her fist into the wall, the sound of her anger reverberating through the room.

Nicky flinched, taking a step back. "I'm sorry, Mia. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Mia's eyes blazed with anger. "You didn't mean to hurt me?" she repeated, her voice dripping with venom. "You're telling me that Alex died for me, and you didn't mean to hurt me?"

She took a step closer to Nicky, her face inches from his. "You're cruel, Nicky. Cruel and heartless."

Nicky's eyes welled up with tears. "Mia, please—"

But Mia cut him off, her voice rising to a crescendo. "No! You don't get to apologize. You don't get to make this right."

She turned and walked away, leaving Nicky standing alone, his eyes streaming with tears.

Mia's body shook with sobs as she stumbled through the room. She fell to the ground, her face contorted in a mixture of anger and sadness. "Why?" she screamed, her voice echoing through the empty room. "Why did they have to die?"

Nicky ran to the deceased's photos, his face contorted in anguish, tears streaming down his cheeks. His body trembled as he reached out, his hands shaking. "You told me you wouldn't do such a crazy act!" he cried, his voice cracking, barely able to hold the words. "Why, Alex? Why did you have to go?" He collapsed to his knees, his body folding in on itself, overcome with emotion. His chest heaved with sobs, his hands pressed against his face in despair. "I'm sorry I came late. You protected your brother until the end. I wish I had died with the two of you."

For a moment, Nicky fell silent, his body wracked with silent sobs. Then, a gut-wrenching cry tore from his throat, a wail he'd been holding back for days. It echoed through the room, raw and desperate, causing a collective shiver. Mia's rage toward Nicky melted away as the sound of his agony hit her. His cries grew louder, uncontrollable, until they pierced the room, and soon Mary, Jake, James, and everyone else were sobbing too. Nicky's body shook with grief, his face a mask of torment, as his cries continued to shake the air. It took a long time for him to fall silent again, utterly spent, his body slumped, motionless.

Mia hid her face, her hands covering her eyes, feeling the weight of her own sorrow. She knew she wasn't the one hurting the most. Even Nicky's friends, still wracked with pain, glanced at her with concern, their expressions torn between their own grief and wanting to comfort her. She felt a sharp pang of guilt twist in her chest, realizing that everyone around her was suffering.

James, still sniffling, turned to Mia, his face streaked with tears, eyes filled with sorrow. "Mia, your words hurt me," he said softly, his voice trembling like the last leaves of autumn. "But at least it helped him," he nodded toward Nicky, who had fallen silent, his face flushed and red from crying. "Staring at Jake, yeah, he finally cried."

Jake looked down, his shoulders sagging under the weight of the eyes on him. He tried to compose himself, but his lips quivered and his face was drawn tight with the sadness that refused to be contained. His fists clenched at his sides as the overwhelming emotions pulled at him, and the silent pain on his face was impossible to hide. Everyone's gaze lingered on him, seeing the raw grief etched in every feature.

Two months had passed since Mia's emotional encounter with Jake. The sun was setting over the small town, casting a warm orange glow over the streets. Mia, still dressed in her black and white outfit, walked alone, her eyes cast downward with a sorrowful expression. Her face was a picture of sadness, her eyes red from crying, with dark circles underneath.

As she walked, memories of Alex, Nawe, and her mother flooded her mind. She felt a pang of grief and loneliness, her heart heavy with sorrow. She missed them terribly, and the pain of their loss still felt like an open wound. Her face contorted in a mixture of pain and sadness, her eyebrows furrowed, and her lips pursed.

The view of the town was breathtaking, with the sun setting behind the hills. But Mia's eyes didn't notice the beauty around her. She was lost in her thoughts, her mind consumed by grief. Her eyes were empty, her gaze distant, and her face pale.

Meanwhile, Jake was still trying to come to terms with his feelings. He felt guilty for still being alive while Mia had lost so much. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he should be doing more to help her, to support her through her grief. His face was etched with concern, his eyebrows furrowed, and his lips pressed together.

As he thought about Mia, he felt a surge of emotions. He was worried about her, concerned that she might be hurting herself or pushing herself too hard. He wanted to reach out to her, to hold her and tell her that everything would be okay. His eyes were filled with empathy, his face soft with compassion.

But he hesitated, unsure of how she would react. He didn't want to intrude on her grief or make her feel uncomfortable. So he waited, hoping that someday she would be ready to talk, to share her feelings with him. His face was a picture of uncertainty, his eyes filled with doubt.

Nicky, who had been watching over Mia from afar, noticed the change in her. She seemed more at peace, more accepting of her loss. He smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. Maybe, just maybe, Mia was starting to heal. His face lit up with a warm smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Mia reached the deserted farm where she had been living for the past two months. She walked into the big farmhouse, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. She smiled, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. Her face was serene, her eyes calm, and her lips curved upward.

"Alex, Nawe, Mom," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm home."

But as she looked around the empty house, the reality of her loss hit her like a ton of bricks. She was alone, and she would never see her loved ones again. The pain of their loss overwhelmed her, and she collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Her face contorted in a mixture of pain and sadness, her eyes streaming with tears, and her body shaking with sobs.

The view of the farmhouse, once a symbol of hope and healing, now seemed empty and cold. Mia's sobs echoed through the empty halls, a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating loss she had suffered.

Meanwhile, James's mental breakdown continued to worsen. His art room was filled with pictures of Nawe and Alex's dead bodies, drawn in vivid detail. He sat at his desk, his eyes fixed on the paper as he drew, his face pale and gaunt.

Jake stood at the window, observing James with tears in his eyes. He was worried about his friend, concerned that he might be losing his grip on reality. But James didn't notice Jake. He was too lost in his own world of grief and pain.

As Jake watched, James reached the window, a brush in his hand. He looked up, his eyes vacant, and asked, "Do I know you?"

Over and over again, James had always said the same words when he saw Jake. "Do I know you? Who are you?" His eyes were vacant, his expression a mixture of confusion and curiosity.

Jake stared back at James, his eyes filled with sadness and concern. He didn't answer James's question. Instead, he just looked at him, hoping that somehow, someway, James would remember him.

Just then, Jake's phone rang, breaking the silence. He pulled it out, his eyes scanning the screen before answering. "Nicky," he said, his voice low.

On the other side of the farm, Nicky asked, "Is James showing any sign of regaining his memory?" Jake hesitated, his eyes fixed on James, who was now walking away from him.

"Do I know you?" Jake repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. His lips were pressed hard together, holding back a river of tears.

James turned around, a look of amusement on his face. "What kind of person asks the same words I ask him?" he said, his voice dripping with confusion. He shook his head and walked away, leaving Jake standing alone.

Nicky's voice came through the phone again, "Jake, are you there?" Jake took a deep breath before answering.

"Nicky, I'm not strong," he sobbed, his voice cracking with emotion.

Nicky's response was calm and reassuring. "You are doing great, Jake. Go and take a rest. I will take good care of all of you."

As Nicky ended the call, he couldn't help but stare at Mia, whose personality seemed to be changing. She was happy one moment, sad the next, and then calm and crazy. It scared him.

The night was dark, with only a few stars twinkling in the sky. The farm was quiet, except for the occasional hooting of owls or the distant howling of wolves. But amidst the darkness, two lights shone brightly - one in Mia's room, and the other in James's.

Mia's room was a mess, with papers and clothes scattered all over the floor. She sat on her bed, her eyes wide with a crazed expression. Her hair was disheveled, and her skin was pale. She was laughing uncontrollably, her eyes shining with tears.

In her hand, she held a pen, and on the paper in front of her, she was drawing picture after picture of Alex, Nawe, and her mother. But they weren't just any pictures - they were twisted, macabre images, with blood and tears streaming down their faces.

Mia's face was contorted in a mixture of pain and sadness, her eyebrows furrowed, and her lips pursed. She was lost in her own world, a world of grief and madness.

In James's room, the scene was similar. His room was a mess, with papers and pencils scattered all over the floor. He sat at his desk, his eyes fixed on the paper in front of him. He was drawing picture after picture of Nawe and Alex's dead bodies, his face expressionless.

But as he drew, his eyes seemed to glaze over, and his face took on a crazed expression. He was lost in his own world, a world of pain and sorrow.

Nicky watched them from afar, his heart heavy with worry. He knew that Mia and James were on the brink of collapse, and he didn't know how to save them. He felt helpless, watching his friends descend into madness.

The lights in their rooms seemed to shine brighter, illuminating the darkness that surrounded them. But despite the light, the darkness seemed to closing in, threatening to consume them whole.

Nicky sat down, his eyes fixed on Mia, who was now laughing uncontrollably. He sighed, his mind racing with thoughts of how to take care of his friends.

"I promised you, Alex," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I promised you that I would take care of them, that I would make sure they're okay. I won't let you down, Alex. I'll do everything I can to keep them safe."

He smiled, trying to convince himself that he was doing enough. But deep down, he knew it was a promise he couldn't keep alone. He needed Jake, James, and Mia to hold on, to keep fighting, and to never give up.

"Alex, Nawe, I hope I'm doing great," he whispered again, his eyes welling up with tears. "I hope I'm making you proud."

The dim light of the room flickered, casting shadows that danced like specters on the walls. Nicky stood at the threshold, his heart pounding in his chest. "Tomorrow, we will visit you," he managed to say, forcing a shaky smile that felt more like a grimace. Tears threatened to spill from his eyes, a testament to the turmoil that churned within him. The echoes of Mia's screams haunted him, pulling him back into the harrowing reality they faced.

"Mia... why are you not in bed yet?" he called softly, his voice a fragile thread amidst the chaos. As if tethered by an invisible string, she appeared, her small form rushing toward him, arms outstretched. Her eyes sparkled with a desperate longing, a beacon of hope in a world that felt increasingly dark.

"Nicky, he is on the way, right?" she asked, her voice trembling with anticipation. Time had become a cruel trickster, and she was ensnared in the memory of a day that had not yet come to pass.

Nicky's heart sank further into despair. "Hmmm, yes... but if he finds you depressed, Alex will beat me to death." The words slipped from his lips, heavy with emotion. He felt the weight of his own fear, the fear of losing her, of losing everything. His voice cracked, and he struggled to hold back the flood of tears that threatened to break free.

Mia's laughter rang out, a fragile sound that seemed to momentarily lift the oppressive weight of dread. She darted off to take a bath, leaving Nicky alone with his thoughts. After a few moments, she returned, standing by the window, her gaze lost in the abyss of the night.

From the other room, James watched her, his heart aching at the sight. Her face, once bright and full of life, now wore a pallor that made his own heart twist in agony. It was as if he could feel the weight of her despair pressing down upon him, suffocating him.

"Why does it hurt? Who is she?" he cried out, his voice breaking with the intensity of his emotions. The names Alex and Nawe lingered on his lips, taunting him with memories of a past that refused to fade. His sobs shook him to the core, each one a reminder of the pain that had become his constant companion.

Mia turned, her eyes wide with fear. "Who is he, Nicky? He seems to be in so much pain. Go to him; I'm okay." Her voice was barely a whisper, fragile as glass, and Nicky felt a surge of panic. Confusion clouded his mind as he tried to understand who she was referring to, but the moment was interrupted by a piercing scream that sliced through the silence like a knife.

Without hesitation, Nicky raced to James's room, his heart racing with dread. He found James crumpled on the floor, the weight of his own demons pressing down on him. Nicky enveloped him in an embrace, holding him protectively, desperate to shield him from whatever horrors lay beyond the walls of their fragile reality.

In that moment, a flashback struck James with the force of a tidal wave, dragging him back to the horrific scene of Alex and Nawe, lifeless in a pool of blood. Time froze as he called out Alex's name, the sound reverberating through the air like a mournful dirge. Then, as if the very essence of life had been siphoned from him, he collapsed into Nicky's arms, his body limp and devoid of spirit.

Nicky's heart plummeted. The sight of James, contorted in pain, mirrored that of Alex's lifeless form. Panic surged through him, and he bent down, his eyes wide with horror as he cradled James's frail body. "James! Please, stay with me!" he pleaded, his voice a desperate whisper.

The room fell into an oppressive silence, the air thick with tension and unspoken fears. Nicky could feel his own breath quickening, the sound echoing in the stillness. He was acutely aware of the fragility of life, the thin line that separated them from madness.

As he held James, a storm of emotions swirled within him—fear, sadness, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness. The weight of their shared trauma pressed down on him, threatening to crush him under its enormity. Nicky's mind raced, grappling with the chaos that surrounded them, the shadows that loomed ever closer.

In that moment, he understood the depth of their shared suffering. The descent into madness was not just a solitary journey; it was a collective plunge into despair, a spiral that threatened to consume them all. The world outside felt distant and irrelevant, a mere backdrop to the tempest that raged within their hearts.

Nicky's grip tightened around James as he fought against the encroaching darkness. They were bound together by their pain, a fragile thread of hope in a world that seemed intent on tearing them apart. As he looked into James's pale face, he vowed to fight, to hold on to whatever slivers of light remained, no matter how dim.

And so, in the suffocating silence of that room, amidst the ghosts of their past and the shadows of their fears, they clung to each other. The road ahead was uncertain, but together, they would navigate the treacherous landscape of their minds, one step at a time.

Meanwhile Nicky's pulse quickened as the figure stepped into the soft glow of the fading afternoon light. He couldn't place the face at first, but there was something hauntingly familiar about it. The stranger was close now, the wind gently tousling their hair, and as they stood before him, Nicky's mind scrambled to piece together who they were.

The person was older than he remembered, their face lined with time, but the eyes—those eyes—Nicky could never forget. It was Zoe, a friend from years ago, someone who had faded from his life long before Alex and Nawe ever had. Nicky's mouth went dry.

"Zoe?" he whispered, almost as if saying her name out loud would break the fragile illusion.

Zoe nodded, her expression unreadable. "I know it's been a long time. Too long, really." Her voice was a soft contrast to the harshness of the world around them. "But there's something I need to tell you. Something about Alex and Nawe."

His heart tightened at the mention of their names. He'd spent countless nights wondering if anyone had any answers, any explanation for what happened to them, and now—now, Zoe stood before him, a ghost from the past with some piece of the puzzle.

Nicky took a cautious step forward, his breath caught in his throat. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, afraid that if he spoke too loudly, the moment would vanish.

Zoe hesitated, then met his gaze. "It's not what you think," she began slowly. "Alex and Nawe—they didn't leave you. They didn't just vanish. There was more to it, and you need to understand. You need to hear the truth, Nicky, even if it's not what you want to hear."

Nicky felt a cold chill creep over him, a sense of dread settling in his stomach. "Tell me," he urged, his voice trembling with a mix of hope and fear.

Zoe closed her eyes briefly, collecting her thoughts, before continuing. "The truth is… Alex and Nawe didn't disappear. They chose to go. It was their decision." Her words hung in the air like a heavy weight, each syllable a blow to his already fragile heart.

Nicky shook his head, disbelieving. "No, that can't be right. They wouldn't—"

Zoe placed a hand gently on his arm, her touch grounding him as the world seemed to tilt. "I know it's hard to understand. But they made a choice. They had to. They were trying to protect you—protect all of us—from something far worse."

A rush of memories flooded Nicky's mind, fragments of moments with Alex and Nawe, their laughter, their plans, the way they'd stood by him through everything. And now, hearing that they had chosen to leave, to leave him, felt like a betrayal, even if he knew deep down it wasn't.

"But why?" Nicky's voice cracked, the tears threatening to fall but never quite reaching his eyes.

Zoe gave him a sad smile, her eyes soft with empathy. "Because sometimes, Nicky, we have to make the hardest choices for the people we love. Even if it means leaving them behind."

A profound silence enveloped them, the weight of her words sinking in. The breeze had stopped, the park eerily still, as though nature itself was mourning the loss of something that could never be reclaimed.

As Nicky stood there, the pain of their absence seemed even more unbearable, but Zoe's presence, though unexpected, offered a flicker of understanding in the darkness. She wasn't Alex. She wasn't Nawe. But in that moment, she was the bridge he needed to move forward—to start understanding that sometimes, people leave not because they want to, but because they have no other choice.

After some time, Zoe disappeared into thin air, her presence lingering only in the faintest whisper of a breeze.

"They are watching over you, Nicky.

We will always be near.

Don't worry."

Her words faded, leaving Nicky standing alone, the park around him still and quiet.

"Haha, Zoe… if only they could come back."

Nicky wiped away his tears, the ache in his chest raw and unrelenting. But even as the grief threatened to pull him under, a flicker of something stubborn stirred within him—a glimmer of hope. "Okay, Nawe, Alex, Zoe… let's go home."

He walked forward, each step filled with the weight of loss but also with an unspoken promise. And as he moved, three figures in pure white followed quietly behind him, their presence a silent reassurance, a reminder that love doesn't vanish, that even in absence, they were still with him.

Zoe told him not to worry, but Nicky still wore that sad, distant look. "Alex, Nawe, do something..."

Nawe lifted a white cloth, letting it fall over Nicky's head, and in that instant, the air shifted. Alex, Nawe, and Zoe stood there, their presence undeniable. A sharp slap landed on Nicky's back. Alex's voice, soft but commanding, followed. "Nawe, stop. He can see us now."

"Nicky, let's go home."

A surge of joy spread across Nicky's face as he jumped up and down, his heart racing.

"Hmmm, let's go," he whispered, a smile breaking through the tears. In reality, only he could see them, and to anyone else, he must have looked insane—talking to people who didn't exist in their eyes. But in that moment, he didn't care.

For the first time in ages, Nicky felt a peace he hadn't known since the loss. They were with him. They hadn't truly gone. No matter what anyone else saw, he knew they were there—watching over him, guiding him home.

And for Nicky, that was all that mattered.