The world around you faded into a blur—the sound of gunfire & explosions reverberating in the distance, but all you could focus on was the pain—the agonizing pain. Blood soaked the ground beneath you, seeping through your fingers as you clutched your wound.

You turned your head, searching for him—Simon. & there, not so far away, he was—but it might as well have been miles. He was also injured, his breath labored, his face contorted in pain beneath his cracked mask.

You stretched your trembling arm out, trying to reach him… but each movement sent shockwaves of pain through your battered body, but no matter what, you couldn’t stop. All you cared about was closing the distance between you & him.

His hazel eyes found yours—bloodshot, pained, but they still burned with that same fierce intensity. He saw you reaching for him, & his own hand lifted with visible effort. It shook as he tried to close the gap, fingers twitching as they moved towards you. But there was too much space. You couldn’t reach each other.

“Simon…” your voice cracked, weak from exhaustion & pain.

“I’m here,” he rasped, “I’m here, baby…” his voice was barely above a whisper, yet it was filled with so much emotion—it tore at your heart. He stretched his arm further towards you, his entire body seemed to fight for every single inch. But you could see it—he was fading—the life was draining from him with each passing second.

“No,” you whispered out, tears welling in your heavy eyes. “No, please. Don’t do this.”

His fingers almost brushed yours, but the gap remained. It was unbearable. He was so close, yet he felt like an eternity away. “I’m sorry,” Simon breathed out, his eyes locked in yours. His eyes filled with so much emotion. The apology shattering something inside you, & you felt a broken sob break free from your dry lips.

His arm faltered, dropping to the ground. His strength slipping away with every shaky breath, as the world around you felt like it was collapsing, your heart pounding in a painful way.

“Simon…don’t leave me.”