"You could die at any moment."203Please respect copyright.PENANAKwEaOjPk9j
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.203Please respect copyright.PENANAu5AUHUzrfB
Without warning, an incredible impact from behind.203Please respect copyright.PENANAGi24Loehtv
A deafening screech.203Please respect copyright.PENANA5yEn1Xc1t9
Glass shattering.203Please respect copyright.PENANAuCB9uJ9h4n
Lights flashing.203Please respect copyright.PENANAuL8HXYBk9L
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Then, there was stillness. A distant beeping of hazard warning lights going off.203Please respect copyright.PENANAYl65yVu2wV
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?203Please respect copyright.PENANA2LlykYhQtm
It always is. 203Please respect copyright.PENANASW3vJnvaU3
When I close my eyes, I'll wake up on my bed. 203Please respect copyright.PENANAqOOlkMoIe1
Yeah. It must be. 203Please respect copyright.PENANAo6mix0hq4n
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? 203Please respect copyright.PENANAKMnjxKBrpk
I muttered a string of curse words under my breath. I cursed them and their family.203Please respect copyright.PENANA0JUIdbZ5fK
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.203Please respect copyright.PENANAOs957ySZdp
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. 203Please respect copyright.PENANAeuJMWF1QzJ
Not a good sign.203Please respect copyright.PENANApDWBtmd6K9
Fear started growing within me.203Please respect copyright.PENANAcctUVN4mUk
When are the police coming?203Please respect copyright.PENANAXne4xAsr2j
Is this really the end?203Please respect copyright.PENANA6jROAuOVo8
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.203Please respect copyright.PENANAqONOewXQAX
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.203Please respect copyright.PENANA80EtWCL8Ds
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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. 203Please respect copyright.PENANAYppwuFrfch
Will anyone else care if I'm gone?203Please respect copyright.PENANAyeHle6ZaPP
At the end of the day, I never achieved anything. I came into the world with nothing, and I will leave with nothing.203Please respect copyright.PENANASi0eafypuK
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.203Please respect copyright.PENANAqdsmKYPbMn
...What would he do without me? Would he be taken back to a shelter? Or to my parents? 203Please respect copyright.PENANApKrMsqfCoE
Would he even be found?203Please respect copyright.PENANApdvXMUn7RE
It's funny that I would start caring as my life ends.203Please respect copyright.PENANAWN3cPPBoV9
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. 203Please respect copyright.PENANAQjhG3HJQ3W
Sometimes, he would be limping when I came back from work, but I pretended I didn't notice.203Please respect copyright.PENANAKeV14zOS7c
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. 203Please respect copyright.PENANAXLWs4T9wLd
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.203Please respect copyright.PENANAaSC0QsLtxU
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He was always waiting.203Please respect copyright.PENANALSePXCNQNM
Waiting for me to come home.203Please respect copyright.PENANASOIDoADOqb
Waiting for me to feed him.203Please respect copyright.PENANA3YmfCqeWvi
Waiting for me to play with him, walk him, praise him.203Please respect copyright.PENANAXucKkaMq2s
...Yet I was frustrated at how needy he was being.203Please respect copyright.PENANAkJjZBzWTNy
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. 203Please respect copyright.PENANArMrfXeoeWI
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. 203Please respect copyright.PENANADLMkzcV4As
Please, don't wait for me.
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My username, Char_charlie, is partly named after a dog my family has, "Charlie."203Please respect copyright.PENANAB1JwUaxUE7
This was heavily inspired by "Star Protector Dog" - please give it a read!203Please respect copyright.PENANAs3rivhRsnl
[A Japanese manga]