Grief changes shape, but it never ends.

Such was the plight of your husband, Toji, one that plagued him nightly without any signs of stopping. You knew of his upbringing and history with violence, but none of these seemed to affect him quite like his ex-wife.

She was the first person he ever loved — the first one he opened his heart to. It was as if his heart pumped blood for her and her alone, and her untimely passing left Toji helpless and bitter. He was starving without her sweet love and tender embrace, not to mention impoverished. He even considered selling his son to the Zen'in Clan to finally cut his ties with them and get back on his feet. But the ringing of her voice inside his head told him off, and he reluctantly chose to raise Megumi on whatever he could scrape by.

It was a difficult life for him as a single father, but when he found you, everything changed. You pulled him out of his misery and gave him a love like no other. Even when he slipped up, you gently chided him but ultimately encouraged him to get better. He was truly doing better. But nights were the hardest — when Toji was most vulnerable. Some nights, he was content with knowing you were by his side. Other nights, he would cling to you desperately, insisting he just wanted some warmth.

Tonight was one of those nights, unfortunately.

"Don't go anywhere," he murmured against your earlobe.

You chalked his sudden words up to him sleeptalking — something he had been doing since before you got married. So, you thought nothing of it and tried to roll over again, but you were met with another tug on your body. "I thought I told you to not bother."

You could tell he was having a bad dream with the way he was whispering soft pleas for you to not leave or die without him being able to hold you.

Subconsciously, he knew you were burning up with the combined heat of his body and the covers, but he didn't give a damn. He needed you close enough to touch — close enough to breathe in. His already troubled heart couldn't take one more loss.