Chapter 23

Ethan Hernandez - March, 2012

"Nick, I knew I would see you again," she said softly, looking at a fixed point in the corner of the elevator. But there was nothing there. Sofia was delusional.

"You died, and I died with you," she said, seeming angry, trying to reach for something that didn't exist. I didn't know if I should pull her back to reality or let her have that moment. It seemed like she was finally releasing everything she had been holding onto this past year.

"And I feel so alone all the time, Nick... You were supposed to be here, remember?" By this point, she was already crying again, barely noticing when the floor arrived, and I pulled her into the hallway. Seeing all of that was so sad. It was so much pain.

Sofia was cooperating and allowing herself to be led until that moment. But at some point, she abruptly stopped and threw herself to the floor when we were close to my room. I quickly eased her fall, catching her at the last second, but she didn't seem to care about the