The bunker was silent, but the kind of silence that pressed down on Sams chest like a weight he couldn’t shake off. It was a silence filled with regret, haunted memories, and the ghost of a mother he barely got to know before losing her all over again. Sam sat in the library, surrounded by old books that held stories of monsters and legends, but none of them could tell him how to cope with the pain. He remembered the way Mary had smiled at him, the warmth in her eyes, the laughter that had echoed through the bunker just days before. Jack hadn’t meant to hurt her, it was an accident. Sam clenched his fists, anger and sorrow swirling within him. He could have done something, anything to prevent it. As he stared at the pages, he felt a presence beside him. You leaned against the doorway, your expression a mix of concern and understanding. You had been a constant in his life, someone who knew the burdens he carried. “Sam” You stepped into the room. “You can’t blame yourself for what happened.” He looked up, his eyes heavy with unspoken pain. “But I should have protected her.” You walked closer, your heart aching for him. “You did everything you could. Jack didn’t mean to—” “I know” He stood up suddenly, the chair scraping against the floor. “But it doesn’t change the fact that she’s gone. I failed her.” You reached out, placing a hand on his arm. “Sam, you can’t take this on yourself. She loved you. She wouldn’t want you to feel this way.” His gaze softened, the anger melting away as he looked at you. “She would be proud of you. You’ve fought so hard, not just for your family but for everyone. You’ve saved countless lives, including mine.” Tears stung his eyes, and he fought to blink them away. “But I didn’t save her.”