Dream Sketcher

i

wyn, swaddled in wires no thicker than threads. The

fractured the silence. "There's

arco turned slowly. The doctor stood fra

damage," she said. "Her organs are

ed paths through his stubble. Beside him, Cedric-Arlene's brother-stiffened. A single

riend, choked back a sob.

or shook

d to Arlene's hand, pale against the hospital

han 24

echoed in his sku

ced back at her, and with a hopele

he void of his thoughts. Her voice was barely audible, f

ile. It was faint, almost ethereal. She didn't ca

d back, but his voice quivered as he spoke.

esitant at first, but they slowly considered what Arlene wan

, and it cast her hair in gold. Her finger

What do you wan

ryth

ed her fav

whispered. "L

broken. "You alway

to a cough. "Maybe I just

pocket, she stared at it, recogn

ther. "You wrote... you

orgive." Her grip tig

was fixed on him, and his eyes looked at both her and thei

rked, smoothly brushing the str

out...

lacroix. That..

licked to Arwyn, just lying do

most closing, she gripped his

rco

tened, like she did when the

. I don't

ower lip, trying to hide the tears he was abou

her rest, though Arwyn's faint cries

e grew thinne

g shallow. When she opened them again

ise me somet

ts fragility. "Draw for Arwyn... Draw for us. Don't l

tear spilled, no matter how he tri

time. "You always... knew h

flickered m

Beep

ned, but Marco did

ying beside her, and her h

clock's relentless tick, and the stars shone bright

frown, the frown of a cry. He wanted h

, his tears soaking int

h hitched. Sh

always..

Beep

the rhythm of the moni

e..." Marco's whisper

th

eee

ess

ckled. The w

ownward, the way his shoul

as o

inside, hearing the endless,

, her father, standing. Ria, her friend, pressing both hands ove

'm s

hing, suffoca

the weight of the