Chapter Twenty-Three

Aiden

I force myself into sleep simply to give my mind an escape. On one hand, it’s a pretty big waste to sleep away what little time I have left. On the other, if I’m asleep, I can’t dwell on the last hours of my life ticking away meaninglessly.

While I sleep, I dream. And in my dreams, there is sunlight dancing on my skin, Elena’s warm hands in mine, and I exist in a world full of color and music.

I wake to a world full of darkness, bitter silence, and cold, sweaty bedsheets.

How stupid was I to think I could change my own fate?

Planting my feet on the ground, I start toward the piano to play one last time but stop abruptly. Nothing, not even music, will soothe me now.

Nowhere to run, nothing to do.

Sit and wait.

Wait to die.