Prologue: So Far So Dead

So Far So Dead

"Are you insane?" Jason's voice trembled as he confronted her.

"What possessed you to jump into that pool? You know damn well you can't swim, Nessa!"

His words hung heavy in the air, swirling with disbelief and concern. Nessa struggled to catch her breath as she responded, her voice strained with a mixture of determination and desperation.

"You have until my upcoming birthday, Jason," she gasped, tears streaming down her face.

"Just fifteen days. That's all you have to convince me that life is worth living again."

The weight of her words hit Jason like a ton of bricks, his heart sinking as he realized the magnitude of the task before him. His voice cracked as he whispered, his eyes glistening with moisture.

"But... that's barely any time at all," he choked, grief evident in his every word. He wiped away his tears with the back of his hand, trying to compose himself.

A heavy silence enveloped them, leaving a palpable tension hanging in the air. Nessa locked eyes with Jason, the faintest hint of a smile gracing her tear-streaked face.

"I don't know how you're going to do it, Jason," she sobbed, vulnerability mingling with her despair. "But if those fifteen days pass without a reason to stay alive, I'll choose to leave this world behind on my birthday."

Her words echoed like a haunting melody, resonating deep within Jason's soul. The weight of the challenge set before him pressed down on his shoulders, but he knew that he couldn't let Nessa face this darkness alone.