Christian didn't wait for anyone anymore.
Not his father.
Not fate.
Not time.
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He went out.
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The first day at the supermarket—
It broke him.
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Standing for hours.
Lifting.
Smiling at people who didn't care.
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By the middle of his shift—
He almost quit.
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His body ached.
His pride burned.
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How did she do this?
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Then it hit him.
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Salomi had done this.
Not for a day.
Not for a week.
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For years.
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Without complaining.
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Without anyone noticing.
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He went back.
Finished his shift.
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Because quitting now—
Would mean he never understood her at all.
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He started bringing things home.
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Snacks.
Clothes.
Little things.
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He didn't know what she liked.
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So he bought everything.
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Hoping—
At least one would make her smile.
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Sofie cried the most.
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She didn't hide it.
Didn't try to.
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She sat beside Salomi for hours.
Watching her.
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Like if she looked away—
She might disappear.
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And when the symptoms came—
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The coughing.
The blood.
The trembling.
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Sofie held her.
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Tightly.
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"Shh… it's okay… it's okay…" she whispered, even when it clearly wasn't.
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Bathroom floor.
Cold tiles.
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Didn't matter.
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She sat there—
Holding Salomi against her chest.
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Tears falling into her hair.
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"Please… stop hurting…" she whispered, voice breaking. "Please… take it away…"
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As if she could bargain with the pain.
As if she could take it instead.
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Ruby was different.
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She hid.
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Not from Salomi.
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But from her own breaking.
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She cried where no one could see.
Wiped her face.
Came back composed.
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"I'm fine," she'd say.
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But she wasn't.
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And Salomi knew.
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So she would open her arms slightly.
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"Come here."
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And that was it.
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Ruby would fold.
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Every time.
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Burying her face into her.
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Crying like she had been holding it in for years.
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And Salomi—
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Would just hold her.
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Like always.
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Mr. Albert tried.
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He really did.
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But no one looked at him.
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No one responded.
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And for the first time—
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He understood.
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What it felt like—
To exist in a house…
And not be seen.
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To try—
And be too late.
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He was living her life now.
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And it was unbearable.
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Through it all—
Salomi smiled.
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And somehow—
That hurt the most.
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It was a rare moment.
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They were all together.
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Talking.
Smiling.
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Something close to normal.
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Something dangerously close to happy.
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Then—
Salomi stood.
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"I'll be right back," she said softly.
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No one thought anything of it.
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She walked to the bathroom.
Closed the door.
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Time passed.
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Minutes.
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Too many.
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They didn't notice at first.
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Until—
Ruby frowned.
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"She's taking too long…"
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Silence.
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Then movement.
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Fast.
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They rushed.
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Door pushed open.
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And—
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Everything fell apart.
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Blood.
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On her hands.
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On the floor.
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Salomi lay there.
Unconscious.
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For a second—
No one moved.
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Then—
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"Salomi!"
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Screams.
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Christian was the first to reach her.
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He lifted her.
Hands shaking.
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"Hey—hey—stay with me—"
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No response.
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Panic exploded.
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Ruby tried to dial.
Her fingers wouldn't work.
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Sofie ran outside.
Barefoot.
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"Please!" she cried to passing cars. "Please help us!"
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Christian didn't wait.
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He ran.
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Carrying her.
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Out into the street.
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No shoes.
No thoughts.
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Just her.
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"Please…" his voice broke. "Please don't do this… not now… please…"
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Blood stained his clothes.
His hands.
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He didn't care.
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He ran until his lungs burned.
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Until a cab finally stopped.
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Hospitals have a way of making everything feel slower.
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Colder.
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Final.
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They sat there.
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Or tried to.
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Christian didn't sit.
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He stood.
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Eyes locked on the emergency room doors.
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Like if he looked away—
Something worse would happen.
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Ruby sat with her hands clenched.
Shaking.
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Sofie leaned forward.
Face buried in her palms.
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Soft sobs breaking through.
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People stared.
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Whispered.
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Too young—
Their eyes seemed to say.
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Too young to be here.
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Too young to be breaking like this.
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But none of that mattered.
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Because behind those doors—
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Was everything they had left.
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And for the first time—
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They understood something clearly.
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Painfully.
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Irreversibly.
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They didn't have time anymore.
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