"You could die at any moment."202Please respect copyright.PENANALxaRNnzNWa
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.202Please respect copyright.PENANABnRZtvJ7nr
Without warning, an incredible impact from behind.202Please respect copyright.PENANATquFqXa8z2
A deafening screech.202Please respect copyright.PENANArOZDHrbzvb
Glass shattering.202Please respect copyright.PENANAVTH4CGh9eJ
Lights flashing.202Please respect copyright.PENANA6ibJh1XJpQ
202Please respect copyright.PENANAcERN5KOtY1
202Please respect copyright.PENANAxHheDLgn8G
Then, there was stillness. A distant beeping of hazard warning lights going off.202Please respect copyright.PENANADjEmMiXeDn
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?202Please respect copyright.PENANAqO8Z7gXe4H
It always is. 202Please respect copyright.PENANABTNlrEGfTc
When I close my eyes, I'll wake up on my bed. 202Please respect copyright.PENANAuXlJ835rXY
Yeah. It must be. 202Please respect copyright.PENANACc8tUhqL1K
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? 202Please respect copyright.PENANA59gro0JjHp
I muttered a string of curse words under my breath. I cursed them and their family.202Please respect copyright.PENANAjeT3rw2da1
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.202Please respect copyright.PENANAguEUes61Ai
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. 202Please respect copyright.PENANAQMBIZ1AbPM
Not a good sign.202Please respect copyright.PENANAaEX2jQHcGH
Fear started growing within me.202Please respect copyright.PENANAJubQV2yCjw
When are the police coming?202Please respect copyright.PENANAcwO4gFEs4W
Is this really the end?202Please respect copyright.PENANAeVRZEt3SjI
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.202Please respect copyright.PENANASy8wfY6Gfv
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.202Please respect copyright.PENANA1vhgvKx7j6
202Please respect copyright.PENANAYJ20fOU0rr
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. 202Please respect copyright.PENANAPvNdaJtCgG
Will anyone else care if I'm gone?202Please respect copyright.PENANA9RTpiFFrkg
At the end of the day, I never achieved anything. I came into the world with nothing, and I will leave with nothing.202Please respect copyright.PENANALmsOcGBcrM
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.202Please respect copyright.PENANAvdvycDn30p
...What would he do without me? Would he be taken back to a shelter? Or to my parents? 202Please respect copyright.PENANAeHMXTU7eVk
Would he even be found?202Please respect copyright.PENANAD3QqEg4eSu
It's funny that I would start caring as my life ends.202Please respect copyright.PENANAdkTPbZ73PJ
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. 202Please respect copyright.PENANASFungSFtJn
Sometimes, he would be limping when I came back from work, but I pretended I didn't notice.202Please respect copyright.PENANAHEOaxuZzng
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. 202Please respect copyright.PENANAWUyx6M6deM
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.202Please respect copyright.PENANAiuqjC8potD
202Please respect copyright.PENANATMn3o2fDQF
He was always waiting.202Please respect copyright.PENANANA2ehxhKZz
Waiting for me to come home.202Please respect copyright.PENANA9l13bvLITb
Waiting for me to feed him.202Please respect copyright.PENANAIe1j7UKLZ6
Waiting for me to play with him, walk him, praise him.202Please respect copyright.PENANA9pJQev78x2
...Yet I was frustrated at how needy he was being.202Please respect copyright.PENANA1yLZQoFLFG
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. 202Please respect copyright.PENANAsxM2ILxNlr
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. 202Please respect copyright.PENANA68aDwYgMBq
Please, don't wait for me.
202Please respect copyright.PENANAFmd6HcPx7J
202Please respect copyright.PENANAIPE8ubBCwE
My username, Char_charlie, is partly named after a dog my family has, "Charlie."202Please respect copyright.PENANAvb7h7Zopts
This was heavily inspired by "Star Protector Dog" - please give it a read!202Please respect copyright.PENANAdJICDk4GRx
[A Japanese manga]