That night, Ryan found himself drifting in and out of sleep.
Even though the day's events had left him physically exhausted, every time he was about to fall asleep, a wave of heat would wash over him, forcing him to toss and turn just to find a bit of comfort.
Caught between dreams and wakefulness, Ryan felt dazed and disoriented.
Unbidden, memories of his years with Bella kept flashing through his mind.
There were happy moments, but also terrifying experiences. Yet, when he woke up in the middle of the night, gasping for air in the pitch-black room, the memory that came back to him most vividly was their first meeting.
Those eyes. That desperate need for care. Ryan had never forgotten, and he knew he never would.
"How did things end up like this...?"
"It wasn't supposed to be like this…"
He muttered softly, almost as if talking to himself. After a moment, even those words faded, leaving only a long, weary sigh.