"You could die at any moment."201Please respect copyright.PENANAWNasOh8i2b
I don't think any of us really understands this statement until someone close to you passes away suddenly, or you encounter a near-death experience yourself.
One second, I was driving on the highway as always.201Please respect copyright.PENANAYcQepHnffc
Without warning, an incredible impact from behind.201Please respect copyright.PENANAVptsEm05pX
A deafening screech.201Please respect copyright.PENANAzEFmAgtH2l
Glass shattering.201Please respect copyright.PENANALP4ZUwOb63
Lights flashing.201Please respect copyright.PENANAFyKgnnZiXH
201Please respect copyright.PENANA8w6imPEKTD
201Please respect copyright.PENANATTxrdFy3o1
Then, there was stillness. A distant beeping of hazard warning lights going off.201Please respect copyright.PENANANM4PO5nWrn
Red stained my blurry vision, and my whole body throbbed. I could hear the sound of my own shallow breathing.
This is a dream, isn't it?201Please respect copyright.PENANAkPsgs1xxR2
It always is. 201Please respect copyright.PENANA3X9ag7JJcP
When I close my eyes, I'll wake up on my bed. 201Please respect copyright.PENANAR0EsjlD6U0
Yeah. It must be. 201Please respect copyright.PENANAJLy4B95i85
Please let it be.
It wasn't.
You've got to be kidding me. What kind of irresponsible driver would crash into me full throttle? 201Please respect copyright.PENANAF3NsXt9FxI
I muttered a string of curse words under my breath. I cursed them and their family.201Please respect copyright.PENANA7kYcdAXjZa
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.201Please respect copyright.PENANABH6XFUYjwd
If only I had stopped at that yellow light two minutes ago. If only I had taken the bus. If only I had brought my umbrella. If only. If only time could rewind.
My body gradually started getting colder. A kind of numbness filled me, slowly swallowing my senses. 201Please respect copyright.PENANA1OzK5Nvc52
Not a good sign.201Please respect copyright.PENANAob8XTR2bZ2
Fear started growing within me.201Please respect copyright.PENANAhHxxEkgzNv
When are the police coming?201Please respect copyright.PENANAxCZxl2eJhK
Is this really the end?201Please respect copyright.PENANA1EDE2uFBoG
I can't die. I can't die like this. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die.201Please respect copyright.PENANAOy19p43EA2
My breaths grew quicker. At this point, I couldn't even move an inch of my body. All I could do was tremble in fear and in the cold.201Please respect copyright.PENANAO4IzGPKDJg
201Please respect copyright.PENANAWMkexlKYoi
What did I ever do with my life? There are so many more things I have to do. I need to read the ending of "Eleceed." I haven't finished writing my first novel yet. I haven't been to a club, nor drank a cocktail yet. I haven't travelled overseas by myself yet. I...
I haven't said "I love you" to my parents.
But they'll be fine, won't they? They've got Sara. 201Please respect copyright.PENANA6oONJiFmro
Will anyone else care if I'm gone?201Please respect copyright.PENANAxeYMbvTOge
At the end of the day, I never achieved anything. I came into the world with nothing, and I will leave with nothing.201Please respect copyright.PENANAndlMdxCBpj
It's not like I was a particularly kind person, either. I wonder... did I ever make an impact in someone's life?
Ah.
Steven.201Please respect copyright.PENANA7KZCHVYv39
...What would he do without me? Would he be taken back to a shelter? Or to my parents? 201Please respect copyright.PENANAGU7jo2Gu4L
Would he even be found?201Please respect copyright.PENANAGLRhHZiNJu
It's funny that I would start caring as my life ends.201Please respect copyright.PENANAmBzVsQ3Eh7
I wasn't a good owner or anything. I got him on impulse at the shelter, but once I got busy, I would neglect him. Hand him over to my roommate. 201Please respect copyright.PENANA3NeP35C87J
Sometimes, he would be limping when I came back from work, but I pretended I didn't notice.201Please respect copyright.PENANAXn64rSK7W8
However, when I felt like playing with him again, he had the happiest smile on his face, making a sense of guilt wash over me. 201Please respect copyright.PENANAxFsGbCgZ8x
I would often take my frustrations out on him when I had a bad day. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, he would always curl up beside me to sleep, as if nothing had happened.201Please respect copyright.PENANAYs4KB5toVf
201Please respect copyright.PENANAdw0bFyfKOV
He was always waiting.201Please respect copyright.PENANADdS1gcpMek
Waiting for me to come home.201Please respect copyright.PENANAkFCl7m8wvJ
Waiting for me to feed him.201Please respect copyright.PENANAHgbYPzRS6f
Waiting for me to play with him, walk him, praise him.201Please respect copyright.PENANAzEKQ8zOhfq
...Yet I was frustrated at how needy he was being.201Please respect copyright.PENANAm0dyVkF0SP
Despite the fact that he was always there for me. When I felt sad, he would whimper and lick my face. At the lowest points of my life, he was there when no one else was.
I should've done more for you. 201Please respect copyright.PENANAv9z6Z5CROT
I should have rushed home every day. I should have taken you out for more walks. I shouldn't have scolded you so much. I should have bought more toys for you.
I'm sorry.
So this time. 201Please respect copyright.PENANAjuItLBZo87
Please, don't wait for me.
201Please respect copyright.PENANAnccdhV3xfk
201Please respect copyright.PENANAVPRzgdtIsT
My username, Char_charlie, is partly named after a dog my family has, "Charlie."201Please respect copyright.PENANA3IcAI1aP48
This was heavily inspired by "Star Protector Dog" - please give it a read!201Please respect copyright.PENANACdkPafGJTF
[A Japanese manga]