n. His life was now a cycle of monotony: wake up, eat, retreat into his room, and repeat. He no longer felt the pull to interact with the world outside;

orning was

that something had changed. A shift in the air. A twinge in his chest that couldn't be ig

ut he didn't turn to look. His mother was undoubtedly coming to check on him again, to ask if he wanted to eat, to remind him of the t

interrupted by the s

that had become a constant in their interactions. "I... I thin

ing around, unsure how to deal with the shell of the man he had once known. Arvid's heart skipped a b

or visitors, Mom," he

e wasn't going to let him retreat. "I know, darling. But this person... they say they know you.

ch time spent confined to it. He dragged his feet toward the door, the weight of his body

ooden floors echoing with each turn of the wheels. The house had once been filled with

ng room, normally a place of comfort, felt cold. In the cente

and strange. The figure turned slowly, and as their gaze met his

e was a strange warmth to it. The man's face was sharp, his features

e wouldn't come to him, though the feeling of recognition hung he

h a hint of a smile, though it didn't re

ing his thoughts. "Who are you

undertone of bitterness in the sound. "You don't

ill didn't come. Arvid's chest tightened as the man

aving Arvid's. "We were close once. Very close. I was you

, and the man's words seemed to hang in the air, suspended by a mix of disbeli

"Well, it doesn't matter now. I'm here for a reason, Arvid. A reason that

nd was too clouded with confusion to piece it all together. He wanted to speak, to ask the right questions, but his thr

his voice cold, the bitterness in his words betraying his fru

calculating expression. He took a step back

rse. But that's not why I'm here. I'm here because there's something you ne

ath caught in his throat as he leaned

d demanded, his voice rising with

that only Arvid could hear. "Your accident wasn't an accident, Arvid. It was pla

sense of what had just been said, but one thing was clear: this wasn't just a visit from an

he knew, with an aching certainty, that