Chapter 72: A Goodbye

A few minutes ticked by, and Ren's breath was finally under control. His heart no longer pounded violently, threatening to tear his chest apart.

Ren somehow managed to keep his senses awake. He was neither unconscious nor dizzy anymore. He gained enough awareness to notice his position. He found himself nestled securely in Detective Kade's lap, his face pressed against his chest. The area beneath his cheek made him acutely aware of the strong build underneath.

Very hard. There must be muscles rippling under this shirt.

Somehow, Ren's usual distractions failed him this time. The stinging pain in his head and the sharp ache in his knees dragged his focus right back to the glaring reality.

Unlike the blurry memories of his previous depressive episodes, this time his memory was as clear as water. He remembered every detail vividly.