Chapter 44: "Who are you?"

An hour later, Louis was granted the permission to see her. He sat beside her, his gaze settling on the cheeks that once bloomed with health, now pallid and lifeless. Her breathing was faint, almost imperceptible. The bloodshot threads in his eyes stood out starkly.

He kept her company through the night, as though his presence could somehow bind her soul to this realm. The night pressed on, and he remained, unable to tear his eyes away for even a second. Fatigue enveloped him, yet he stayed, watching over her. He feared that the moment he succumbed to sleep might be the very moment she slipped through his fingers.

"Vivian, I love you deeply. I am sorry for everything."

What if her memories of them had been irretrievably lost? Would she despise him, pushing him away, denying him the chance to be close to her?

Louis's mind was a tempest of confusion, yet his heart clung to hope, ready to do anything for her happiness.

The longest night in Louis's life had ebbed away. Vivian finally bega