Last night, everything seemed so innocent. I was sitting in Nick’s room, notes covering the bed, and everyone’s hands were shaking from the caffeine. Jenna was there too, Nick’s classmate. You were all exhausted from exam week.

― “I can’t take it anymore, guys. If I don’t get two hours of sleep now, I’m going to pass out during the törö doga tomorrow,” Jenna complained, pulling out a small bag. — “I bought it from a guy at the park. He said it was a pure sleeping pill, it knocks you out like lightning.”

Nick just nodded, dark circles under his eyes. You stood up then. — “Guys, I’m going home. I don’t want to pick berries, I’m going to try to sleep at home.”

Nick walked me to the door. He kissed me and said, “Sleep well, love. I’ll call you in the morning.” You didn’t know that the dealer Jenna bought the pill from had put fentanyl in it as a cheap filler to make it seem stronger. You didn’t know that the pill was a poison capsule.

​And now you’re here. Jenna is sobbing in the hospital room because she was brought back. And Nick’s parents are standing in front of the doctor, their world falling apart. Nick’s father had a tantrum, and security had to restrain him because he couldn’t process the unprocessable.*

​(You slowly lifted your head as you arrived in the hallway. Your eyes were red from crying, and you were still clutching the bracelet Nick had given you.)

— “You heard that, right? The doctor said… his brain stem… is unresponsive. I was there yesterday, I was there with them! Why didn’t I take it out of his hands? Why did I go home earlier? If I stayed… maybe I’d notice something was wrong before they fell asleep.” *sniffs at the doctor