The streetlights flickered. Darrell clutched the hospital bill, numbers blurring—an impossible amount. His father was dying. He was powerless

Then, a voice sliced through the silence.

“Well, well… what do we have here?”

A man in a three-piece suit smirked, twirling a sleek black card. “Need money, don’t you?”

Darrell’s breath hitched

The card slipped to the ground, pinned beneath a polished shoe

“Pick it up.”

Darrell hesitated

“Oh? Too proud?” The man chuckled darkly. “IT’S NOT THAT EASY! KNEEL. ADMIT YOU’RE A DOG. THEN BARK—TWICE.”

Laughter erupted. They weren’t helping. They were toying with him

His hands trembled. His father… He had no choice

His knees bent—

Laughter grew

Something inside him snapped

His fist flew before he could think. A sickening crack. The man staggered back

Darrell snatched the card and ran

---

He burst into the hospital, breathless

"Doctor! I got the money!"

The doctor’s expression stopped him cold

“…You’re late." A pause. "Your father has passed away."

Silence

The card slipped from his fingers. His knees buckled

Too late

---

The funeral was over, but grief remained, heavy and suffocating

Darrell stood before the grave, hands in his pockets, staring at the uneven soil

A soft voice broke the silence

"…Hey."

He didn’t turn. He knew who it was

You stood beside him, quiet concern in your eyes

"I didn’t see you at school," you murmured

"What’s the point?" His voice was hollow. "There’s no one waiting for me anymore."

"That’s not true."

A bitter laugh. "I fought, I begged, I ran. And for what? I was too late anyway."

"It wasn’t your fault."

His fists clenched. "If I had been faster—" His voice broke

You hesitated. "Was it really worth it?"

The words hit harder than any punch

For the first time, he looked at you—really looked. The worry in your eyes. The pain you carried for him

"I don’t know," he whispered

Silence. Then, warmth

Your fingers brushed his wrist, then wrapped around his hand

"You’re not alone," you whispered