His teeth clenched against the surging discomfort, his jaw locking tight as waves of pain crashed over him. The agony jolted him awake, and his eyes snapped open, struggling to focus. A flicker of determination cut through the haze, but his strained smile faltered, his lips trembling as if the effort to hold it was too great.
His face, pale and drawn, glistened with sweat, beads trickling down his temples. Each shallow breath came with a visible shudder, his chest heaving under the strain. His gaze grew distant, eyes losing focus as they wandered, searching the dim room for a semblance of stability.
It was as if his entire existence was narrowing down to a single thread, stretched too thin. A tiny, fierce flame of resolve burned in his eyes, warding off the tears that welled up and threatened to spill over. His fingers, white-knuckled and trembling, gripped the edges of the bed, knuckles blanching as he fought to keep his grip on reality.
Drawing a ragged breath, he forced out,
His head lolled to one side, the motion slow and heavy, and his body sank into the bed. The brief flicker of hope and resolve vanished as the exhaustion overtook him, leaving him limp and still, the playful glint in his eyes fading to a soft, serene sleep.
His face, pale and drawn, glistened with sweat, beads trickling down his temples. Each shallow breath came with a visible shudder, his chest heaving under the strain. His gaze grew distant, eyes losing focus as they wandered, searching the dim room for a semblance of stability.
It was as if his entire existence was narrowing down to a single thread, stretched too thin. A tiny, fierce flame of resolve burned in his eyes, warding off the tears that welled up and threatened to spill over. His fingers, white-knuckled and trembling, gripped the edges of the bed, knuckles blanching as he fought to keep his grip on reality.
Drawing a ragged breath, he forced out,
Let’s make a deal,his voice cracking as he spoke. The playful edge in his tone barely masked the struggle behind his words.
If I make it out of this... alive, drinks are on me.His lips curled into a wistful, faint smile.
His head lolled to one side, the motion slow and heavy, and his body sank into the bed. The brief flicker of hope and resolve vanished as the exhaustion overtook him, leaving him limp and still, the playful glint in his eyes fading to a soft, serene sleep.
08-15-2024, 02:40 AM
