I stood there, a small, broken figure crouched in the empty street. The night traffic had dwindled to distant drones; the world carried on, indifferent to the silent collapse taking place inside me.

I cried until my lungs burned, each breath scraping my throat raw. I cried until the crushing weight against my ribs eased—just enough—for air to reach the hollow places again.

Through the blurred veil of tears, I perceived something firm behind me.

Vincent had not left.

He was a step away—close enou