After hearing Mark's heartwrenching story, my heart felt significantly heavier, filled with concern for Christian. I couldn't begin to fathom how Mark coped with the loss of his loved one, and the thought of Christian facing a similar fate sent shivers down my spine. It wasn't just Christian's life that was at stake; my own existence felt inexplicably entwined with his. I couldn't imagine a world without him, and the unbearable truth that he might die because of me was almost too much to bear.
"Stop it, Ava," my inner voice sternly reprimanded. "Please, stop indulging in these dark and painful thoughts. Why do you constantly gravitate towards sadness? Do you find solace in misery?"
"No, I don't," I admitted to myself. "In fact, I'd rather go numb than continue down this path."
"Good," m
