Mark's heart hammered in his chest as he rushed to his sibling’s side, their body a twisted mess on the ground. Blood pooled around them, the wounds too severe for his mind to fully process. His hands shook violently as he cradled their head, feeling their ragged breath against his palm.

“Stay with me,” he forced out, but his voice broke, raw and panicked. He could hear his pulse in his ears, the weight of the situation crashing over him. His gaze flickered from their battered form to their face, eyes still open but clouded with pain. His stomach twisted into knots as he realized how badly they were hurt.

He pulled them close, desperate, but his hands slipped in the blood. His whole body trembled, and for a moment, he felt a suffocating pressure settle in his chest. "Why does this always happen?" he thought, guilt and dread crawling up his spine. "Why are they always the one who gets hurt?"

Mark could feel the crushing weight of a terrible truth. This wasn’t the first time he’d failed to protect them. It wasn’t the first time his world had shattered because he couldn’t keep his sibling safe.

“You’re gonna be okay"he whispered through clenched teeth, his voice barely audible. But his thoughts screamed otherwise. He felt like he was cursed. No matter how hard he fought, no matter how much he tried, those he loved kept paying the price.

"Please," he murmured, brushing hair away from their face, his voice trembling. "Please don't leave me